I made a fortune by growing medicinal materials in ancient times

by image is not here

not mine. mtl. 210 ch. ancient. female protagonist. poor to rich.

1. Chapter 1

I made a fortune by growing medicinal materials in ancient times [Growth Counterattack Entry]

Author of this book: Shuangbai Yueming

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After suffering an earthquake, Li Xiaohan struggled for three days on half a bottle of mineral water. He did not wait for rescue, but only waited for the aftershocks. He opened his eyes and knelt in front of the Li family's ancestral grave.

This life was very miserable, and the whole family was forced to a dead end. Her father was about to go all out to collect ginseng in the mountains, but lost his life, leaving her and her mother orphaned and widowed, and finally fell into the water and died.

Forget it, what's even more difficult is that in order to highlight the male protagonist's talent, the author set up the male protagonist's imperial examination journey through three dynasties. First, he was the founding emperor; then the prince died young and was succeeded by the grandson; and finally the uncle of the feudal prince overthrew his nephew and successfully rebelled.

What time is it now? Li Xiaohan clapped his fingers.

Ah, the prince is about to die, the emperor's grandfather is going to have a grandson, and in three years, the feudal prince's uncle is going to rebel.

Troubled times are coming...

Li Xiaohan: In troubled times, people are worse than dogs. Why is it so difficult to live well?

In order to survive the coming turmoil, Li Xiaohan decided to unite all forces that could be united:

First, he led the tribesmen to make a fortune by planting Eucommia ulmoides and peppers, and then twisted the tribesmen into a rope to protect the left and right;

Then teach ordinary people to breed white wax insects to refine tiger balm to enhance their own fame and reputation;

In the end, he used Panax notoginseng styptic powder, alcohol disinfectant, and allicin to sterilize bacteria, and he caught up with King Ding, who was only a vassal king now but became the winner three years later.

Three years after another, Li Xiaohan not only led her tribe to survive in troubled times, but she herself rose from a poor peasant girl to a dragon, with wealth, fame, and power at her fingertips.

The first time Zhang Fu saw Li Xiaohan was in his medicine hall. At that time, he just thought he was a bean sprout with a pair of big, flexible eyes.

Her eyes were too sharp, unlike an ordinary herb-gathering farmer's girl. Zhang Fu sent someone to check to see if she was a spy whose curves were close to his own.

Later, Zhang Fu began to slash every peach blossom around Li Xiaohan with his knife:

"This scholar is not good enough. He has no power to catch a chicken. How can he protect his wife and children?"

"This martial artist is not good enough. He is big and strong. He doesn't know the severity. What if he hurts his wife and children?"

"This businessman is not good. A businessman values profits over separation. He is not a good partner."

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Reading guide: The female protagonist starts her career in the early stage, while the male protagonist appears later.

Content tags: common people's life travels through time and space, farming, growing up easily

Search keywords: Protagonist: Li Xiaohan ┃ Supporting role: ┃ Others:

One sentence introduction: Traveling through troubled times, professionally growing medicinal materials

Purpose: live a good life

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=== Chapter === 1

In the early autumn of the 23rd year of Taihe, the sun rose in the early morning and shone on the lush forest. From a distance, the greenery was tinged with golden spots, giving it a beautiful autumn scenery.

But when people are in it, the feeling is different. When the sun shines, the water vapor in the forest evaporates, and the clothes stick to the body in a sticky manner. There is no wind, and the humus smell of fallen leaves fills the nose, which is very annoying.

Li Xiaohan straightened up, pulled the coarse cotton clothes clinging to his body, and slapped his sore lower back.

After working for more than an hour, I was either very tired or hungry. The empty bowl of rice bran porridge I drank in the morning was almost digested.

He stretched out his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Suddenly, a faint sound of crying came to his ears. He listened carefully, as if it was coming from the top of the mountain.

That would be very scary. On the top of the mountain is the Li family's ancestral grave.

"Mother, mother, listen, is there someone crying on the mountain?" Although she is only a thirteen-year-old girl, Li Xiaohan is naturally courageous, and her words are a little scared, but more curious and gossipy.

Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time for a reply from his mother Wang, Li Xiaohan turned around to search, only to see Wang staring blankly at the top of the mountain.

"Mom, what are you looking at?"

"Xiaohan, come up and take a look. Is there a person in front of your grandmother's grave on the top of the mountain?" Wang's lips turned white and she asked her daughter for confirmation in a trembling voice.

Li Xiaohan has never met his biological grandmother. It is said that her father passed away when he was seven years old and was buried in the mountain. Later, my grandfather married his step-grandmother, Mrs. Chen, and gave birth to two more sons, who in turn married wives and had children.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan's parents and her were living in the hands of step-grandmother Chen.

Li Xiaohan was short and her sight was not as wide as Wang's, but she climbed up the tree in a hurry, stood on the branch and raised her hands to look up, her heart slowly dropped, "Mom, look at that clothes and body shape, he should be my dad. "

"That's your father, something must have happened, something must have happened!" Li Xiaohan was not sure, but Wang seemed to have obtained evidence, her voice was shrill, and she ran up the mountain as she spoke.

Xiaohan quickly slid down the tree and ran to the top of the mountain.

As they ran higher and higher, the suppressed cries became more and more real. The two of them became anxious and ignored the road. They fell several times in a row before climbing up and running up again.

When they reached the top of the mountain, they saw Li Xiaohan and her father Li Xiandong, a dark and silent thirty-seven-year-old farm man, the backbone of the family, kneeling with half his body in front of the grave and crying hoarsely.

Li Xiaohan's tears flowed down.

"Dad, dad, what's wrong with you?".

Perhaps Li Xiandong was holding his head and crying because he was too depressed and sad. Li Xiandong didn't notice the approach of his wife and daughter, and he didn't raise his head until Li Xiaohan called.

His eyes were bloody and red, and his tears and nose were running together, like a trapped animal in a cage.

"Dad, Dad, tell us what happened, and we can find a solution together." Li Xiaohan's heart was beating fast, and all kinds of conjectures came to his mind.

"..."

Li Xiandong's pale lips opened and closed several times, but he was unable to make a sound. Finally, he made a hoarse voice like gravel and blood, "Your grandfather, your grandfather said that we want to separate the family."

The family separation was just a family separation. Li Xiaohan breathed a sigh of relief. She thought something had happened to her father.

"Baby's father...how do you divide the baby?" Wang, who had been silent until now, did not breathe a sigh of relief like Li Xiaohan, but asked tremblingly.

"Dad said, dad said, we will be divided. From now on, he will live with his second and third brothers. He will give us two acres of paddy field and three acres of dry land. He will also give us five taels of money to build a house and let us go out and build our own house to live alone. "

Perhaps because he felt that he could not face his wife and daughter as a result of the separation, Li Xiandong covered his face with his hands, and a dull and rough voice came out from his fingers.

"Then what should our family do?" Wang has a weak temperament. After hearing this, her body softened and she collapsed on the ground, crying bitterly.

Li Xiaohan's legs and feet also felt weak, and he hurriedly held on to the tombstone beside him to stand upright a little.

He looked around, feeling at a loss.

The Li family in Pingshan Village is said to have been a scholarly family for a hundred years.

Many years ago, their family fled here, but they still did not forget the teachings of their ancestors and maintained a prestigious family: whenever the family is divided, the eldest son gets the most property and is responsible for supporting the elderly, while the other sons equally share the other meager shares.

This clan rule is as natural as the sun rising and the moon setting.

However, Li Xiaohan's grandfather Li Shengli split the family and separated the eldest son of Li Xiaohan's biological father Li Xiandong. According to etiquette, the father believed that the eldest son was unfilial and did not want to live with this son.

This was a scolding pointed at Li Xiandong's spine, and a complete denial of the first half of his life as the eldest son.

Moreover, Li Shengli's family separation was particularly harsh. Although the eldest son would get the majority, parents would always consider their children. In addition to the ancestral family tradition, the remaining sons must survive after the family separation.

Li Xiaohan quickly calculated in his mind that the Li family now has 24 acres of paddy fields, where rice is grown, and 35 acres of dry land, of which 10 acres are planted with wheat and 25 acres are planted with cotton, but they are only given a share. There are two acres of paddy fields and three acres of dry fields. According to the current grain production and tax payment situation, about two acres of land can support an adult man, and half of that for women and children.

Grandfather's allocation of this small amount of land really only left their family of three starving to death.

As for money, don't think too much about it. My step-grandmother, Mrs. Chen, is the head of the family, and several cousins go to school together. They are crying out for poverty every year. I guess I just gave him a few pennies to build a thatched house.

However, Wang suffered physical injuries due to childbirth many years ago, and she never gave birth again. Over the years, she has been taking medicine intermittently.

Although this medicine, which costs tens of cents, is often broken due to one reason or another, the money is not in hand. If it can be purchased, a medicine can be boiled from a rich soup to as clear as water, but after all, it is Wang's and Li Xiandong's hope.

As for this split family, starving to death is a luxury, so naturally there is no money for medicine.

Li Xiaohan was willing to split up the family, but his step-grandmother was partial to her. They did the most and heaviest work in this house, but the food and use were the worst. She had long been unwilling to stay in the old house and work hard to support others.

She also believes that with her family's hard work and hard work, they can live a better life than in their old home.

However, this is a fair division of the family. Even if they are more generous, allowing them to make a little work, they will not be able to starve to death.

Li Xiaohan felt cold in his heart. She was originally a fierce and independent girl. Seeing that her parents were only focusing on the pain and did not take any action, Li Xiaohan had to remind her parents, "Mom, dad, let's make this matter bigger." , Grandpa cares about face, Brother Cai Rong wants to study for reputation, we are right, the clan must support us!"

"Yes! Yes! Let's go find the clan leader to seek justice." Wang wiped away her tears and nodded anxiously.

"It's useless." There was deep sadness and despair in Li Xiandong's voice, "Father said that Changrong was accepted as a disciple by Zhu Xiucai next door, and he was given the title Zhiyuan. Dad said that Changrong has promise, and he and Mom needs to help me, and from now on, he and my mother will live in the same room with my second brother."

A scholar, a scholar who was officially accepted as a disciple and given calligraphy. No wonder her father was almost kicked out by his grandfather.

Li Xiaohan knew that the clan was crazy to think of a scholar.

The Li family has been carrying on the inheritance for hundreds of years, but in the past ten years, not even a scholar has emerged. Farming is busy, fighting for water, and farm work. There are no talents in the clan who can support the scene. Chief Li can't speak to the head of the village.

If my cousin can be accepted as a disciple by Zhu Xiucai, the family will definitely support this scholar.

No wonder his father was almost kicked out, but he could only secretly run to his mother's grave and cry bitterly.

The world is like this, there is an end everywhere and there is nowhere to escape.

No matter how fierce and opinionated she is, Li Xiaohan is just a thirteen-year-old girl. She supported her grandmother's tombstone and slowly fell down. The friction of the rough stone tablet made her hands hurt, but it was not as painful as the throbbing pain in her head.

Then there was the Wang family's wails that penetrated my ears, "Dad, why are you so cruel. Mom, you died early. My father, it's all my fault for dragging you down."

The words of his biological father Li Xiandong kept replaying and roaring, "Changrong was accepted as a disciple by Zhu Xiucai next door, and he was given the word Zhiyuan, the word Zhiyuan..."

Li Zhiyuan.

Li Zhiyuan.

Li Changrong, courtesy name Zhiyuan!

Like a hammer, it hit hard deep in Li Xiaohan's head.

White light exploded in front of Li Xiaohan's eyes, and countless forces were pulling in his mind. Suddenly, everything was remembered.

She wears books.

=== Chapter === 2

Accompanied by a severe headache, Li Xiaohan recalled the memory of his previous life. He was the person in charge of a large-scale medicinal forest joint planting base. Unfortunately, he was trapped and died in an earthquake, and then he was reincarnated into an imperial examination article he had read.

She had memories of two lives, but in this life, she didn't remember anything from her previous life.

And the name Li Zhiyuan is too familiar. It is the name of his cousin in his previous life and his cousin in this life.

In Pingshan Village, Li Zhiyuan and the male protagonist study together with Zhu Xiucai. The male protagonist is smart and self-disciplined, and he sings all the way to the top of the Jinshi examination. However, Li Zhiyuan failed the list again and again, and finally stopped being a scholar. The comparison shows how outstanding the male protagonist is.

Being able to become the male protagonist's control group in the initial stage, in addition to being in the same time and space, Li Zhiyuan also has advantages. Li Zhiyuan's biggest advantage is filial piety.

According to the book, Li Zhiyuan's uncle Li Xiandong was childless. In order to beg for a son, his uncle went to the mountains to collect ginseng and was bitten by a poisonous snake and died.

However, in this area, there are only fake ginseng and no real ginseng. Uncle Li Zhiyuan lost his life in vain because of his ignorance.

As the grandson of Li's family at that time, Li Zhiyuan wore sackcloth and mourning for his uncle, and then kept the filial piety for his uncle for twenty-seven months, which delayed his own imperial examination.

It was not until he became a filial piety that he took the imperial examination again, and achieved the title of scholar at a young age.

The book describes that Li Zhiyuan's influence on the Li family was profound, and it can even be said that one person attained enlightenment, chickens and dogs ascended to heaven. The Li family later bought a house and a small shop in the city, and the family settled down and established a business in the city.

As the eldest son of the second wife, Li Zhiyuan took on the responsibilities of the eldest son for his uncle. He threw dishes for his uncle, provided for his grandfather and father until they died, and has always taken care of his uncle's family. He is really a filial son and grandson!

As for the wife and daughter of uncle Li Xiandong, it is said that when Li Zhiyuan moved into the city, he wanted to settle the mother and daughter well. Unfortunately, the aunt insisted on staying in the village with her daughter. One winter, she fell into the river and froze to death.

The book also laments that Li Zhiyuan, a benevolent and filial man, once wanted to observe filial piety for his eldest aunt, but everyone persuaded this short-lived woman that she was not worthy, so Li Zhiyuan gave up.

Therefore, people in the surrounding villages respect Li Zhiyuan as a person, saying that although his talent is not as good as that of the male protagonist, his character, especially filial piety, is particularly superior.

After all, after the male protagonist became prosperous, it was said that he severely slapped some of the clan elders who were bullying his family at that time, and did not mention his relatives. The reputation of the clan is really delicate.

Li Xiaohan felt dizzy in his head.

It turns out that not only did she travel through time, but she also traveled through books. She couldn't even be considered a supporting character with a named name. She was the kind of unknown female supporting character who was dispensable.

And my whole family is the stepping stone for my supporting male cousin.

Isn't this a stepping stone? He sacrificed himself to fulfill his cousin's filial piety.

Li Xiaohan's hands and feet became weak and he fell down in front of the grave. His hands brushed against the stone tablet of his grandmother Luo Shi.

The rough stone tablet brought bursts of pain, calling back Li Xiaohan's mind.

Li Xiaohan tried hard to suppress the dizziness in his head and tried to understand the context.

If Li Zhiyuan in the book is really his cousin, then when did Uncle Li Zhiyuan pass away in the book.

Li Zhiyuan is thirteen years old, not this year.

Yes, her grandfather split up the family, and the land they were given was so little money that her father went to the mountains to look for ginseng for a glimmer of hope. There are legends about ginseng in the mountains in this area, but it is said to be fake ginseng.

Dad may have wanted to take a chance. He wanted to collect ginseng and buy money to cure Wang's disease. He wanted to build a good house that could protect him from wind and rain. He wanted to add some land so that he would not be unable to survive. Unexpectedly, he lost his life.

Li Xiaohan's hands and feet became increasingly weak, and she looked at her father beside her, covering her face with silent tears.

Her father might be really holding his breath.

She must give up her father's idea, but he can't go into the mountains to collect ginseng and be bitten to death by a poisonous snake.

In a feudal patriarchal society, she had no brothers. Her father died, and she and her mother were left at the mercy of others.

Didn't you see in the original book that you and your mother fell into the water and lost their lives in the cold winter?

She struggled hard for three days during the earthquake. She was cold and hungry. She only relied on the sewage water to save herself. She almost waited for rescue, but unfortunately she died after the aftershocks came first. She knows how life and death feel. .

She wants to live!

No matter what kind of time travel, no matter what kind of time travel book, she remembers it clearly from birth to now.

This is her new life, and no one can take her life away lightly, not even the author.

But, what to do?

Li Xiaohan sat paralyzed in front of the grave, trying to recall the contents of the book and looking for a way to break the situation.

I don't know how long it took, but the sun gradually rose higher, and the hot people's hearts became more and more dry.

Perhaps it was because of the last bit of man's self-esteem that Li Xiandong could not cry in front of his wife and daughter, so Li Xiandong sat dumbly on the ground, but Wang did not have such scruples. She fell on the ground and cried desperately.

The separation of the family affected not only Li Xiandong, but also the Wang family.

As long as they have a son, even if he is not as promising as Li Cairong, he will not be kicked out like this, with no reason to reason.

When Mrs. Wang was crying, she was not only crying about the separation of her family, but also about her miserable life.

Li Xiaohan raised his head and looked at his parents. He knew in his heart that what his parents lacked was not only the property of the family, but also the breath that he had been holding back and the little hope in his long life.

Looking further back, the silence in the forest stretches endlessly. In the mountains behind Pingshan Village, I have heard that fake ginseng appears. Some people say that it just looks like ginseng and is not real. Others say that deep in the mountains It contains real ginseng, and the fake ginseng is the cover of the genius treasure.

Regardless of whether there is real ginseng in the legend, it is generally accepted that fake ginseng is not valuable.

But...Li Xiaohan saw fake ginseng when he and Wang were fighting pigweed...

Fake ginseng? !

Li Xiaohan shook his head vigorously, as if this would make him more awake, "Dad, my head just hit my grandmother's tombstone. In a daze, I seemed to hear my grandmother telling me that fake ginseng is a medicinal material called Panax notoginseng. It can also be sold for money. I asked you to pick Panax notoginseng and sell it in the pharmacy. Then you and your mother can go to see the doctor and have a son."

"belch."

Wang, who was crying as if she had died, suddenly stopped, slowly raised her head and looked at her daughter.

Li Xiaohan is also thirteen years old this year, but because he doesn't have enough to eat, he is short and thin, and he has been a little tanned from the sun because he has been cutting pig grass with the Wang family all year round.

There is only one pair of eyes, clear, big and bright, showing cleverness and intelligence.

Mrs. Wang has always known that her daughter is more promising than herself. She is not timid like herself, nor is she like her father who only knows how to work hard and say nothing.

It's just that my daughter, no matter how smart she is, has grown up by myself. Why, she suddenly saw a ghost?

And here, Li Xiandong, who was so dull that he seemed to have lost his soul, seemed to have regained his soul, and his eyes kept wandering between his mother's grave and his daughter.

I couldn't believe it, but I was full of hope.

"Dad, could I have misunderstood? Is this fake ginseng or real Panax notoginseng? Are there people selling it to the doctor? It's clear and sunny, grandma...she can't come out."

Sometimes, it is a good way to make progress by retreating. People may not believe it when hope is hanging in front of them, but once it is said that it is gone, they will immediately become a gambler and try their best to catch it.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Xiaohan finished speaking, Mrs. Wang immediately said sharply, "No, it must be mother who told us. It must be mother. She told us when she saw that father had separated. Otherwise, you are a little person, where can you go?" What do you know about Panax notoginseng and what do you know about seeing a doctor?"

The more Ms. Wang spoke, the more she believed it, and her eyes became brighter and brighter. She grabbed Li Xiandong's hand, and the skinny man immediately broke out and pulled Li Xiandong up, "Her father, I know where the fake ginseng is, I know it."

Wang has been doing forest activities all year round, so she told Li Xiaohan about the fake ginseng. It's just that Li Xiaohan didn't think of his past life memory at that time, so he just treated it as a joke.

Li Xiandong was picked up by Wang, and the two ran very fast. Li Xiaohan jumped up and followed.

Although there was hope, Wang quickly found the place where the fake ginseng grew.

Li Xiaohan followed behind, panting non-stop. When he saw this piece of fake ginseng, he stepped forward, squatted next to a plant, and pulled away the rotten leaves around it.

However, Li Xiaohan's eyebrows furrowed tighter and tighter, and he suddenly pulled up the plant.

The small leaves are lanceolate, more than five times as long as they are wide, and the bamboo whip-like mixed beaded rhizome. (1)

This is not Panax notoginseng, this is Ginseng angustifolia!

Li Xiaohan took a breath of cold air and felt that his internal organs were chilling.

Even though this plant is mixed with the word ginseng and looks like Panax notoginseng, it is a variant of the genus Panax of the Araliaceae family. Later generations proved that it has the greatest medicinal value in the Tibetan medicinal system and is used as a garden decoration in other places.

No wonder the locals said this fake ginseng was useless. It turned out to be the case. Someone must have taken this thing as ginseng and went to the drugstore and asked about it, but found out that it was not worth a penny, so there was a rumor that fake ginseng was worthless.

For a moment, Li Xiaohan's eyes showed despair, but Li Xiandong and Wang looked at him eagerly, with such eyes that people really didn't know how to speak.

No...no, Li Xiaohan closed his eyes, frowned, and held his forehead. This was not the 'fake ginseng' he saw. And, there's another place!

Li Xiaohan walked away, "Father, mother, this is not the one. Let's go!"

Following the direction in his memory, Li Xiaohan strode forward. It seemed very fast, but also seemed like a long time. Finally, he took Li Xiandong and Wang to the place in his memory.

"Umbellate inflorescence, solitary stem top, inflorescence axis about 20 centimeters long, sauce red fruits, currently in the fruit maturity stage. Four palmate compound leaves, each with five leaflets, dark green, pinnate veins , white bristles along the edges, with jagged edges. (2)"

Li Xiaohan murmured to himself while observing carefully, checking bit by bit with the Panax notoginseng traits in his past life memory.

Li Xiandong and Wang watched Li Xiaohan's actions eagerly. Li Xiaohan carefully picked the red Panax notoginseng fruit, looked around and said, "Mom, dad, pick a big leaf for me."

Li Xiandong hurriedly picked a big leaf for Li Xiaohan. Li Xiaohan took it, wrapped the Panax notoginseng fruit, and put it away carefully: "Okay, here are the seeds. We will use them in the future."

After carefully placing the seeds, Li Xiaohan continued, "Mom and dad, dig out these three or seven roots. Don't break the roots."

With such a huge difference in attitude, Li Xiandong and Wang naturally saw the difference. The three of them worked together and dug out the Panax notoginseng stems in a short time.

"Conical main root, about five centimeters long; there are four stem marks at the top, four-year-old; there are protruding tumors around it, solid in weight, difficult to break, gray-yellow, slightly breathy, bitter at first and then sweet. (3)"

Li Xiaohan looked at this Panax notoginseng with admiration, just like looking at a money tree.

pretty!

The four-year-old wild Panax notoginseng is the wild species with the best medicinal effect. It was the flagship product of my medicinal forest planting base in my previous life.

"Father, mother, this is it, there is nothing wrong with it."

As Li Xiaohan finished speaking, Li Xiandong and Wang's hearts suddenly relaxed. It's done, my mother is right, God has given me a way out.

Wang smiled and wiped the tears from her face, "I saw there are still others around, let's dig them out quickly."

"Hey, they're all dug up." Li Xiaohan said crisply.

Let her get the wealth she was born with.

After all, Panax notoginseng has been used as medicine for thousands of years, and as far as I know from my memory, this is an ancient society whose culture and development are very similar to that of China.

=== Chapter === 3

After picking Panax notoginseng, Li Xiaohan's hanging breath returned to his stomach, and his heart began to beat like his own.

Just crying and running, his emotions and physical strength were exhausted, and he was very weak. Li Xiaohan took a deep breath and then spoke, "Mom, dad, it's enough to pick these few Panax notoginseng trees today. Let's go back first."

Otherwise, people will be too sleepy and exhausted to stay in this forest for a long time and fear of accidents.

Sure enough, after hearing Li Xiaohan's words, Li Xiandong and Wang nodded blankly, which seemed very vain when they thought about it.

A family of three helped them down the mountain. Li Xiaohan took the opportunity to say, "Dad, grandpa and the others will talk about dividing up family matters later. If I say anything, you have to listen to me, okay?"

"Xiaohan, what are you going to say?" Li Xiandong said in confusion, "You are a junior, don't disobey your grandfather, it will bring bad reputation to you."

In this world, sometimes a word of filial piety can kill someone. Seeing that Li Xiandong suffered such an unfair family separation, he could only cry his grievances in front of his mother's grave. If it weren't for Li Xiaohan, he would have no choice but to risk his life to pick the rumored ginseng.

"Dad, don't worry, it's just that my grandmother asked me to ask my grandfather." Li Xiaohan comforted her father. For a while, her father's mind couldn't be changed, so it would be better to borrow her grandmother's name.

Sure enough, when he heard his own mother, Li Xiandong stopped talking.

The group of people helped him back home, and the rest of the Li family was already at home.

When he met Li Xiandong, Li Shengli showed a relaxed smile at first. Nothing happened and his reputation was saved;

But after relaxing, a trace of anger flashed across his eyebrows. Did the eldest son want to threaten him with death?

In the end, after seeing Li Xiandong's red and swollen eyes, he disappeared. After all, they are biological father and son. There is no need to make such a fuss and make people laugh.

If Li Xiaohan hadn't been paying close attention to her grandfather, she wouldn't have been able to see her grandfather's emotional changes at that moment. For example, her parents lowered their heads and walked forward numbly, not daring to face it or not wanting to face it.

Li Xiaohan continued to sweep over, and leaning against the kitchen door was his step-grandmother Chen. Holding a water ladle in her hand, Mrs. Chen tried her best to pretend to be calm, but her eyes first revealed a hint of resentment, and then turned into unconcealable pride and joy.

In this family, the person who wants to separate the family the most is probably step-grandmother Chen. After all, she is an outsider in her own room.

However, step-grandmother Chen has always followed the subtle pillow style route. When the family was suddenly separated, there must be someone who acted as an instigator and accelerated the development of the whole thing. This person was probably his cousin Li Cairong, who was accepted as a disciple by Zhu Xiucai.

Li Xiaohan couldn't help but look for his cousin Li Cairong. At this moment, Li Cairong was standing in front of the main room. He was a thirteen-year-old boy, wearing a blue cotton robe, with his hair tied up. He was thin and had a gentleness that was rare for farmers. His face was just slightly pale, his lips were pursed tightly, and his eyes were unpredictable.

Also, since my cousin wants to take the imperial examination, he naturally cares more about reputation. If something happened to his family, Li Cairong's path to the imperial examination would be over.

However, I used to think that my eldest cousin was an ordinary farm boy, but now I have discovered that my eldest cousin is actually a famous plot character. He is much more important and has more brains than the supporting characters of my own family.

Speaking of which, it is easy to understand. After all, my father is the eldest son, and my mother also takes medicine every now and then. If she does get pregnant and gives birth to a son, according to the clan rules, the family property will belong to her family.

How can my cousin rest assured that he will take advantage of this opportunity to go to school and divide the family while he has no male in his family and has given up his family's strong labor force?

Looking at the others, Li Xiaohan sighed inwardly. It seemed that it had probably been agreed that her father would be the last one to be notified.

Li Xiaohan kept thinking in his mind, and his hands were not slow, holding Wang's hand and sending Wang into the room, "Grandpa and grandma, my mother is a little uncomfortable. I will send her back to the room to rest for a while."

When Li Xiandong heard this, he followed him into the room. The family of three didn't even put down their backpacks, and hid in the room unable to come out.

Li Xiandong's family of three hid in the room. Li Shengli and Chen didn't stop them. Naturally, the others didn't dare to say anything. The family worked in silence. No one cares about Li Xiandong's family, and no one complains, as if Li Xiandong's family of three does not belong to this family.

At this moment, the bloodlines of different mothers were divided into two completely different factions in the Li family.

In the room, Li Xiaohan helped Mr. Wang sit down, then gently took out the Panax notoginseng root from the bottom of the basket, put it in a secret place, and then put the pigweed in the basket back to its original position.

After putting away the Panax notoginseng, Li Xiaohan saw Li Xiandong staring blankly at the beams, and did not try to persuade him. No matter how much he said, it was useless. In this separation, Li Xiandong was the one who was most emotionally hurt.

It felt like only a while later, Li Cairong shouted outside the door: "Uncle, aunt, and sister Xiaohan are out for dinner."

Li Xiaohan listened to the voice and found that his eldest cousin's voice had returned to normal.

The more I think about this cousin, the more unusual it becomes. How did the cousin manage the relationship between Zhu Xiucai and his disciples?

Zhu Xiucai was in the next village. He had his own teacher in the school in Pingshan Village, although he was an old boy.

When did you start planning?

Did you start planning after you failed the childbirth test at the beginning of the year?

Or did it start earlier?

After all, although the clan rules are not explicitly written, it is implicitly assumed that if you fail to pass the first childbirth test at the age of fourteen or the second test at the age of eighteen, the clan recommends that you do what you can and do not insist on studying and not knowing the secular affairs, so as to avoid You cannot survive by accomplishing nothing.

Separate outsiders from your own room. If you don't pass the exam next year, the family will be members of your own family. Only then will your cousin be able to better convince your family to continue studying.

Whether it's a careful plan after careful consideration or a read-through of people's hearts and taking advantage of the situation, this cousin cannot be underestimated.

With many questions, Li Xiaohan followed Li Xiandong and Wang out and sat down in his usual position.

Today's meal, everyone's mind was not on the food, and they just went through it casually.

When the meal was almost done, Li Shengli coughed lightly and said, "While everyone is here, let me tell you something."

"Your mother and I are getting older, and each of you has started a family and started a business. Now, it's time for us to separate our families. Your mother and I will take up the bulk of the family property to provide for our retirement. You three brothers are young and can work hard on your own. Xiandong, as the eldest brother, you can first go out and build a house to live in, and I will give you five ounces of money to build the house. Xiannan and Xianxi are still young, so your mother and I will help each other and support you for a few more years. As for the land, I will give you the village. There are two acres of paddy fields and three acres of wheat dry land on the side."

"Xiandong, you are the boss, and I always trust you. What do you think?"

Li Xiandong lowered his head. After a while, he replied with a hint of despair, "I listen to dad."

My father said that he should keep pension money, so how could he object? Although everyone knows whose pocket this pension money ends up in.

Hearing Li Xiandong's reply, Li Shengli was satisfied, but he still turned to everyone and said, "Although we are separated, everyone must remember that you are brothers and a family. Especially since we are scholars, we must have one Good reputation. Don't blame me for being partial. As long as you are talented and can make a difference, there will always be a day when you can lead everyone. By then, you will understand my painstaking efforts."

Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi suppressed their excitement and nodded and said yes. The joy on Mrs. Chen's face could not be concealed but she pretended to be calm. Li Cairong lowered his head and looked embarrassed. Li Xiaohan rolled his eyes in his heart. Shit.

"Grandpa, my father respects you very much. Of course he won't have any objection to what you say."

Li Xiaohan interrupted slowly, with a very worried tone, "It's just that I'm also worried about my father. Today he kowtowed in front of my grandmother's grave several times and said something to her from the bottom of my heart. I'm really afraid that he won't be able to think about it."

Li Xiaohan said while looking at Li Xiandong. Li Xiandong cried in front of his mother's grave today in great grievance. His eyes are still red and there are traces of secretly kowtowing on his head. Now that the incident was over, Li Xiandong, an honest man, only lowered his head in shame when his daughter mentioned it.

Ask Li Xiaohan, what does his father have to be ashamed of? Even his grandfather, who did evil things, is not ashamed.

Sure enough, when Li Xiaohan mentioned his long-dead first wife Luo Shi, Li Shengli's expression suddenly turned ugly. What also became unsightly was the complexion of step-grandmother Chen.

Li Xiaohan didn't care about them and continued to say worriedly, "Now we, a family of three, have little hope. I am not a boy, and my parents are not in good health. I don't know if I can survive. But if we really want to live, If we can't go on, the worst we can do is go see grandma together. We are finally together as a family. Don't worry, your reputation, grandpa, will not be affected, nor will your studies be delayed, brother Cai Rong."

After saying these words, Li Shengli's expression became even more ugly. Li Cairong raised his head and stared at Li Xiaohan fiercely.

Li Xiaohan only showed a sad smile, hugged Ms. Wang who couldn't help but tremble with sadness aroused by these words, and tried to persuade her, "Mom, don't be sad. Although we have nothing, we have always been together. "

For a moment, Li Shengli, Li Cairong and others could not tell the truth. After all, sometimes people who wear shoes are afraid of bare feet. If something happened to Li Xiandong's family in front of Luo's grave, even if they went to cry and make a scene, Li Shengli's reputation was ruined, and Li Cairong no longer wanted to study.

Originally, the reason for the family separation was for Li Cairong to study, but now it has hindered Li Cairong's studies.

"What do you want?"

"Grandpa, my father has been working as a cow and horse for half his life. We just want to survive. Four acres of paddy field and six acres of dry land. You know my father's temperament." Li Xiaohan said a number.

This number of acres, she thought, should be enough for her family to survive, and it was just right on her grandfather's psychological line.

In fact, it can be improved a little, but Li Xiaohan is not sure. If her grandfather has to divide the family, she would rather lose an acre or two than divide the family.

"Okay. Let's do this." Li Shengli gritted his teeth. After all, he was really afraid that his eldest son's family would not be able to think about it, so how could he hold his head high in the clan.

Forget it, forget it, the eldest son has no sons. A hundred years later, the land will still belong to their old Li family.

Li Shengli made this decision, and what Li Xiaohan had just meant, Chen's Li Cairong and others were too tied up to dare to object.

"In that case, let's go to the clan leader to write the documents for the division of the family. You three brothers will come with your mother-in-law, and you, Changrong, will come too. From now on, you will be the eldest grandson of our family." Li Shengli breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang's body froze when she heard the word "eldest grandson", and her joy at being allocated a few more acres of land was suppressed. Li Xiaohan supported Wang firmly and followed him to the patriarch's house.

Now is a critical time. The more difficult and dangerous the pass, the more important it is to be stable.

In his previous life, Li Xiaohan relied on this teaching to hide in the safety triangle of the house at the moment when the earthquake was strongest, not forgetting to take the small half bottle of mineral water with him.

She struggled for two days with only half a bottle of mineral water. Later, when the water ran out, I tried my best to clarify the dripping sewage with mineral water bottles to save myself.

If the aftershocks hadn't come, her shelter would have collapsed. Li Xiaohan believed that he could hold on longer until rescue came.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan did not panic at this moment, but was extremely calm.

Only by detaching yourself and being calm to the point of being cold can you strive for more opportunities bit by bit.

=== Chapter === 4

Li Xiaohan followed everyone towards the patriarch's house while recalling everything about the patriarch in his mind.

The current patriarch's surname is Li Manjing, and he is a little distant from Li Xiandong's family, but according to his generation, he is the same generation as Li Xiandong and is more than ten years older than Li Xiandong.

During the war, a capable member of the Li family led the Li family members to flee to Pingshan Village. The journey was very thrilling, but the clan members were united and the previous clan leader was wise, so the clan leader had great say in matters within the clan.

The same goes for other members of the same clan. In troubled times, no one can escape without being united.

Even after escaping, clans are still full of fights, fighting for land, water, supplies distributed by the government, and easy labor. All this depends on which clan has the bigger fist and which clan has more capable people. .

This trend has continued.

Thinking of this period of family history, Li Xiaohan understood why Li Xiandong and the Wang family were so desperate.

It's not just about Li Cairong's future, but because there is no hope - no money, no son, no one is willing to even adopt him, and their family will only get worse and worse.

That's why her father took the risk to find ginseng. Only with money can he have a chance to turn around.

Sure enough, after listening to Li Shengli talk about the family separation, the clan leader frowned and remained silent for a long time.

Patriarch Li naturally understood why Li Shengli separated the family.

Studying with Zhu Xiucai is different from studying in the village. The four seasons etiquette, pen, ink, paper and inkstones, as well as future imperial examination fees, the second house cannot survive without the support of family property.

Xiandong is indeed the eldest son, and Changrong is indeed promising. As the patriarch, Li Manjing instinctively thinks about the inheritance and growth of the clan.

Both ends of the scale were weighed and weighed. In the end, the temptation brought by a scholar was too great.

"Since ancient times, it is difficult for upright officials to stop family affairs. Since you all agree, I have no objection."

The clan leader sighed, took out the rice paper, bound it into a book, and then filled it out with a brush in small regular letters. He wrote down the reasons for the division of the family, the houses, and the fields as just described. During this period, no one dared to disturb him.

However, this does not include Li Xiaohan, "Grandpa, the patriarch, five ounces of money is the money for building a house for each family. What about the fat pigs, chickens and ducks that my mother raised? Can you give some to us? Sell the livestock so that you can use the money to buy Pots and pans."

Just now, we only talked about fields at home, not money, because the three members of Li Xiaohan's family didn't know the amount of money at home. It was useless to mention that Li Shengli and others insisted that they had no money.

However, it is different when speaking in front of Patriarch Li. The Patriarch has a reputation for being fair. Regardless of whether it is true or not, if his family is divided in this way, if it is brought up in person, the Patriarch will not open his eyes and pretend that he cannot see it.

What you can win is some.

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere was suffocated. The clan leader stopped and said, "Uncle Shengli, the five ounces of money are for building the house. How much silver do you give Xiandong for dividing the household? How do you divide the household items such as livestock, iron pots and so on?" ?"

According to the seniority in the clan, Patriarch Li calls Li Shengli uncle, but everyone knows that this is just a title, and no one can challenge the authority of the patriarch based on seniority.

Sure enough, Li Shengli paused for a while, feeling guilty, and then said: "There are still nearly ten ounces of money at home, so give Xiandong two ounces of money. One ounce will be divided into family silver, and another ounce will be converted into scraps of livestock, which will be your half-year ration, and the rest You can take care of it yourself."

There was a hidden smile in Li Xiaohan's eyes. He remembered that his grandfather was a person who loved face very much. His father was dull and did not know how to speak, and could not earn face for him. Coupled with Chen's pillow style, Li Shengli gradually felt that this son was very important. I was discourteous, and today I want to kick my family of three out of the house.

Look, this good face now is the breakthrough point. No, after the patriarch spoke, my grandfather distributed an extra sum of cash to his family.

Don't underestimate these two small amounts of money. Some people don't know how heartbroken they are.

Li Xiaohan glanced at her step-grandmother, and saw that her step-grandmother's face was extremely ugly, her lips were pursed tightly, and she seemed extremely dissatisfied.

However, Li Xiaohan was not worried about his step-grandmother's opposition. His grandfather had a very good reputation, and his step-grandmother had always followed a subtle path and would never refute his grandfather's face in front of everyone.

The two elders nodded, and the juniors below, such as Li Xiannan and Li Changrong, would no longer have any objections.

These two ounces of money are stable.

Sure enough, seeing that no one raised any objections, the clan leader wrote down the division of money. Then, I wrote two more identical copies.

"Okay, three brothers, Uncle Shengli and Xiandong, come and lay their fingerprints. Changrong, as the eldest grandson, you have to do it too. Xiandong, your family..." The patriarch's words stopped abruptly.

After all, he doesn't have a son.

"Head of the clan, let me do it. I will do it for my future brother. If it really doesn't work anymore, then I will recruit a son-in-law." Li Xiaohan said crisply.

What are you doing? You are not a human being. Don't catch your own family and bully you just because you think you are a woman.

Moreover, Li Xiaohan always felt that his step-grandmother always had a vague intention of depriving his family of his own. First, let's take a shot at the clan leader to prevent him from recruiting a son-in-law if he doesn't succeed.

Li Xiandong and the Wang family thought that Li Xiaohan was doing the massage for their unborn brother. The patriarch thought that Xiandong was cold-hearted and was preparing to recruit a son-in-law. At this time, Li Shengli was thinking that it would be better to do less than to do more and to finish things decently. .

Therefore, Li Xiaohan temporarily replaced the heir of their family and put his fingerprints on the documents of the branch family.

"Leave one to the clan for safekeeping, one to give to Uncle Li, and one to Xiandong." The clan leader distributed it.

Then, the patriarch Fang said to Li Xiandong, "Xiandong, where are you going to buy your homestead?"

"Isn't there a piece of land next to Dashu's house at the east end of the village? Can we just use that piece of land?" Li Xiandong thought for a while and said in a low voice.

That piece of land is farthest from the current Li family.

"Okay, I'll write the paperwork for you together and take you to Li Zheng's place in the afternoon."

After the family separation document is written, go to the fields to draw the boundaries clearly. If there is no problem, go to Li Zheng to sign.

Li Shengli and Li Xiandong are the only ones to go to Li Zheng's house. Li Xiaohan and others will go home first.

=== Chapter === 5

After returning home, Li Xiaohan picked up a wooden plate and said to Mrs. Wang, "Mom, help me dig some plant ash in the kitchen."

"Hey." Mrs. Wang is now obedient to her daughter's orders. Besides, she is restless right now. It's easy for her to have random thoughts if she doesn't do anything.

"What does little sister Xiaohan want from the plant ash?" Li Changrong asked. At some point, this cousin, whom she had never seen in person, seemed to have changed drastically. Because of this, the sudden separation of the family was a bit of a loss. Li Cairong felt that something was beyond his expectation.

Li Xiaohan looked at this cousin, the most promising person in the Li family, with a smile in his eyes and said, "Brother Changrong, I scratched my leg when I went up the mountain this morning. It's aching now. Let's go to the river and wash it." Wash it and apply it with some plant ash."

Since ancient times, there has been a saying of applying plant ash to wounds to stop bleeding. Li Xiaohan said this, and it seems that there is no problem.

Sure enough, Li Cairong couldn't guess whether what Li Xiaohan said was true or not, and frowned slightly, "Then sister Xiaohan, please pay more attention."

"Hey, thank you Brother Cai Rong for your concern." Li Xiaohan picked up his wooden plate and said, "Mom, let's go."

Mrs. Wang was afraid of Li Cairong, the grandson of Li's family and a scholar. She knew that her daughter was not scratched, but she didn't know why her daughter lied. She was afraid that Li Cairong would see it, so she picked up a handful of plant ash with a dustpan and hurriedly lowered her head. Out the door.

Seeing Wang's appearance, Li Cairong eliminated the doubts in his mind: Li Xiaohan is a bit shrewd and clever, what's the use? She is just a woman. With parents like Wang and Li Xiandong, no matter how shrewd she is, she will lose the lion's share of the eldest son. The family property was divided.

Li Xiaohan didn't know what Li Cairong was thinking. The two came to the river. It was not the time to do laundry and vegetables. There was no one by the river, but Li Xiaohan still found a place with few people on weekdays.

"Xiao Han, what are you doing with Tu Mu Hui?" There was no one around, so Wang relaxed a lot and asked curiously.

"Wash the seeds." Li Xiaohan took out the Panax notoginseng seeds wrapped in leaves from his arms, put them into a wooden plate and gently washed them.

It is difficult to preserve the seeds of Panax notoginseng. It is best to use the plump and mature fruits of three to four-year-old plants. Wash off the peel and dry them naturally. Then soak the seeds with "Root Peptide" or "King of Sterilization" 60 times for disinfection. . However, the current conditions are not good, so we can only clean them and disinfect them with plant ash, and try to preserve them as much as possible. (1)

The seeds of Panax notoginseng tend to lose their vitality after drying, so they need to be sown as soon as possible. "Tomorrow we will plant these seeds in Dad's woodland."

"This...this Panax notoginseng can be grown by oneself." Wang felt unbelievable, but couldn't help but feel hopeful.

"Who knows if it can be grown?" Li Xiaohan smiled while his hands kept washing the Panax notoginseng seeds one by one. "You have to give it a try. Anyway, there is no loss. If it grows, we will make a lot of money." "

Only if you give it a try can you have hope. If you haven't tried it, there is no hope at all.

Mrs. Wang was told that her heart was filled with heat. She had been suppressed by her step-mother-in-law for more than ten years after she was married, and her concession and cowardice had already been engraved in her breathing.

But at this moment, Li Xiaohan's words made her heart become hot: Yes, give it a try, just in case you succeed.

The fruits of Panax notoginseng are very small and numerous, but both mother and daughter are very careful and skillful people. Although washing such small fruits is very tedious, they quickly processed the seeds cleanly and then soaked them in plant ash water.

Li Xiaohan made a rough estimate and found that the inflorescence of the three-year-old Panax notoginseng contained more than 200 florets. After the fruit was harvested, one fruit contained one to three seeds. They picked six Panax notoginseng this time and estimated that there were more than a thousand seeds. .

I just don't know how many will sprout in the end.

"Mom, let's go home." Li Xiaohan straightened up and said.

It's just that when you come out, you can hide the seeds in your arms, but it's not that convenient to go back.

Li Xiaohan thought about what kind of excuses he could use to get over it.

But the goddess of luck favored her, and there happened to be no one in the Li family hall. At this time, brother Li Cairong had to study, while Mrs. Chen and her daughter-in-law were in the backyard vegetable garden.

Li Xiaohan took a quick step and carried all the wooden trays into Li Xiandong Wang's room.

Fortunately, this game is Li Xiaohan's own game, otherwise it would be difficult to explain.

In the evening, Li Xiandong and Li Shengli came back. Mrs. Chen brought over the food rations for Li Xiandong's three people. After the bank transfer was completed, the family was considered finished.

Five taels of money for building the house plus two taels of silver later for dividing the house.

Seven coins. Is it enough?

Li Xiaohan didn't know enough about the current prices, but looking at the faces of Li Xiandong and Wang, he knew that the money was not enough.

However, people can still be choked to death by urine.

I hope this Panax notoginseng can make money. If not, go to the city with me and see what medicinal materials you know and what ways to make money in the city.

Thinking this, Li Xiaohan said, "Dad, let's take Panax notoginseng to the city medicine hall tomorrow to see how much the Panax notoginseng can sell for."

"Yeah." The helpless Li Xiandong and Wang nodded.

Yes, they still have Sanqi. There is hope!

=== Chapter === 6

Early the next morning, the sky was just turning white and the roosters were crowing. Li Xiaohan jumped out of bed.

However, when Li Xiaohan got up, he found that Li Xiandong and Wang had already put on their clothes and were sitting there with uneasy expressions and black eyes. He didn't know how long they had been waiting. The baskets were already carried on their backs, with Wang's straw sandals placed on them, and the Panax notoginseng underneath was covered.

Li Xiaohan looked at this and guessed that the two of them might not have slept much all night. He took the multigrain cake handed over by Wang and found it was almost cold. In that case, there is no need to say more, let's go.

I went out and walked forward. As I got closer to the city, more and more people gradually started to appear. People carrying baskets, carrying burdens, carts, and three people from the Li family who were loaded with vegetables, firewood, and coarse cloth and carrying straw sandals were among them. Unremarkable. Occasionally, one or two bullock carts pass by, which are valuable properties and attract the envy of the farmers on the road.

Finally, when they arrived at the city gate, Li Xiandong paid the entry fee of three cents, and the three of them entered the city.

Li Xiaohan observed that the farmers carrying vegetables and firewood, or the small vendors, were all heading east. But those carrying cotton cloth headed west. When I come to this city, it should be divided into east and west areas.

Of the three Li family members, Li Xiandong came to the city to help in the off-season, so he was the most familiar with the city.

"Dad, go to the biggest medicine hall, they know more." Li Xiaohan reminded.

"Yeah." Li Xiandong replied in a dull voice, looked up and walked towards the west.

So Li Xiaohan roughly judged that in this city, the small merchants and hawkers were all in the east, and the consumption in the west was relatively higher.

Along the way, sure enough, there are grocery stores, breakfast shops, and cloth shops in the west. After a while, we arrived at the door of the largest medicine hall that Li Xiaohan would say.

Renhetang.

Li Xiaohan thought silently in his heart.

Seeing his father and mother hesitating outside the door, Li Xiaohan stepped in first.

"Girl, do you need to see a doctor?" Although this trio was very strange, with a little girl walking in front and two adults following behind uneasily, the guy was well-informed and there weren't many people in the morning, so he took the initiative to move forward. call.

"Excuse me, do you accept medicinal materials here?" Li Xiaohan directly stated the purpose.

"Our medicine hall collects them, but the types and quality of the medicinal materials we collect have requirements. Please bring them out and let us take a look."

It turned out that he was here to sell medicinal materials. There were herbal collectors who often cooperated with him in their medicine hall. Occasionally, farmers came to the door with medicinal materials and asked to buy them. However, it was usually either that the goods were wrong or the quality was extremely poor, so the enthusiasm of the clerks dropped. Wait.

"Father, mother, please take out the Panax notoginseng." Li Xiaohan said.

Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang quickly put down their backpacks, took away the straw sandals on top, and took out the Panax notoginseng under the baskets.

The man's feeling of strangeness became even stronger. This family of three actually listened to his daughter's orders.

After a brief glance, the couple did not dare to look at each other. Instead, it was this thin little girl with a straight back, bright eyes, and clear speech. No wonder it was a child who came to the fore, or bad bamboos produced good bamboo shoots. This pair of farmers gave birth to a good daughter.

The waiter made a conclusion in his mind, then lowered his head to check the herbs in the basket, flipped through them briefly, and said, "Follow me to the backyard and take a closer look. Don't block the front."

Li Xiandong and others quickly picked up their backpacks and followed them into the backyard.

The backyard is a small square yard, surrounded by a corridor. Several apprentices in uniform clothes are drying medicinal materials in the corridor. There is a well platform in the northwest corner. Next to the well platform is a stove. There are no ordinary pots and pans in the stove. Instead, there were rows of medicine stoves. The fire is large or small, and the smoke from the medicine stove is curling up, exuding bursts of medicinal fragrance.

"Take it out and let me take a look." The man picked up a bamboo dustpan next to him and said.

Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang quickly put down their backpacks. Just as they took out one of the fake ginseng in their backpacks, a voice suddenly came from beside them: "Hey, let me take a look."

Li Xiaohan and others turned their heads and saw a thin, middle-aged doctor in a blue cotton robe, with a goatee and a Sichuan pattern between his eyebrows.

The waiter lowered his head respectfully and shouted: "Doctor Zhang."

"Hmm." Doctor Zhang replied casually, but his attention was not on the waiter. He could only see his slender hand picking up the top Panax notoginseng and squinting his eyes at the rising sun, "Sheep intestine head, Copper skin and iron bones, mastoids, and chrysanthemum hearts. I counted, one, two, three, four, five, six, six knots. This plant is six years old. Well, it's really good, it's really good..."

Doctor Zhang was obviously very satisfied with this Panax notoginseng plant. He looked at it over and over and talked about it. Li Xiaohan and others breathed a sigh of relief.

After identifying this Panax notoginseng, Dr. Zhang gently put it aside. Unfortunately, the Panax notoginseng in the basket was not as old and good as this one. Doctor Zhang was disappointed, but he still sorted the remaining Panax notoginseng and put them away. .

Li Xiaohan was on the side, observing carefully. Doctor Zhang's classification criteria mainly depended on the year and size. Come to think of it, different Panax notoginsengs have different prices.

Sure enough, after Doctor Zhang finished dividing them, he said: "This one is six years old. It is old and heavy enough. I will give you thirty taels of silver for the special price. These two plants, four years old, will be given the second price each." Each plant costs fifteen taels of silver. The remaining two plants are three-year-old and can be used as medicine. Each plant costs eighty taels of silver. The total is seventy-six taels. Do you want to sell them?"

Li Xiandong and Wang were simply stunned and speechless for a long time. For some reason, they both looked at Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan was stunned. In later generations, the price of Panax notoginseng, one of the successfully conventionally cultivated Chinese medicinal materials, has dropped to a level acceptable to ordinary people. She had previously thought that the ancient wild Panax notoginseng should be more expensive, as her own A few Panax notoginseng plants should be sold for a few taels of silver, but I didn't expect that they could be sold for dozens of taels.

Suddenly, Li Xiaohan's heart became hot. Panax notoginseng can be sold at such a high price, so if it can be grown, wouldn't it mean that he would make a fortune?

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Li Xiaohan did not return to Dr. Zhang's question of whether to sell it or not. Instead, he asked cautiously, "Doctor Zhang, is this Panax notoginseng so expensive? I heard from the villagers that it is not valuable. We saw How many more are there?"

After listening to this, Dr. Zhang raised the corner of his mouth slightly, "Of course Panax notoginseng is expensive. Dr. Li Shizhen first recorded Panax notoginseng in the "Compendium of Materia Medica", saying that Panax notoginseng can stop bleeding, disperse blood and relieve pain, and can treat wounds caused by golden blades and arrows, and sores caused by fluttering sticks. , if the bleeding does not stop, after using it, the effect of "stopping the bleeding" can be achieved. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that "Ginseng is the first to nourish qi, and Panax notoginseng is the first to nourish blood. The taste is the same but the effect is the same, so it is called Ginseng Panax notoginseng is the most precious of Chinese medicines, so this Panax notoginseng became very popular in the early days and was almost exhausted by the herb collectors. Nowadays, there are not many Panax notoginseng with such good quality."

Dr. Zhang didn't seem to mind what he said. Li Xiaohan would feel that he was losing money on the sale. What he offered was the real price. As for what Li Xiaohan said, there were many more, "You said there are many more, that's probably a lie." Three 7. False ginseng with angustifolia, oh, it is what you often call false ginseng. The flowers and leaves look similar on the surface, but they are not the same thing. False ginseng is useless and not valuable. Too many people have come to us and asked about it. If you don't believe it, dig it out and take a look, it's most likely the fake ginseng."

After saying this, Doctor Zhang said doubtfully, "Hey, I said you girl is very lucky, you can actually dig up the real Panax notoginseng."

Li Xiaohan's face was full of joy and humility, "An elder told me earlier that we happened to meet each other. It was all luck, all luck. We sold these Sanqi."

Now that you're sure, there's no need to hesitate. She had just observed that in this picture, the doctor divided the Panax notoginseng into the inferior ones very carefully, and did not put the good Panax notoginseng into the inferior pile. Moreover, the medicine hall had kitchens, wells, and dustpans. It shows signs of use over a long period of time.

A medicine hall that can be opened at its maximum capacity for a long time is a guarantee of its credibility and will not be greedy for their trivial products.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Xiaohan finished speaking, Dr. Zhang directly put away the Panax notoginseng and took them to the counter. It was obvious that Dr. Zhang just asked and was very confident that they would not sell it at the price he gave them.

After Doctor Zhang and the shopkeeper whispered for a while, the shopkeeper took out the money from the small counter: "Seven silver ingots worth ten taels, one silver ingot of five taels, and one tael of broken silver. Once you have taken it, we won't recognize it after you leave the counter."

Li Xiaohan stood up on tiptoes and picked up a large silver ingot, in the shape of an ingot, with "Twelve Years of the Seventeenth Year of Xia Taiping" engraved underneath.

It looked very similar to what it looked like in the TV series, but Li Xiaohan had never seen a real silver ingot. Looking at Li Xiandong and Wang in the blink of an eye, they were still in a state of incomprehension for two days. It was something they had never seen before.

Again, considering such a big medicine shop, there was no need to lie to them.

"Dad, put it away." Li Xiaohan put the silver ingot into Li Xiandong's hand.

Li Xiandong felt that he almost didn't dare to move.

After a while, Li Xiandong stuffed the silver ingot into his arms with trembling hands. Next to her, Mrs. Wang's eyes seemed to be shining as she looked at the silver.

It only took half a day's work and no capital at all, and I made seventy-six taels. This money is like falling from the sky, I can't believe it.

Even Li Xiaohan was overjoyed. Sure enough, this is the road to heaven and earth. Otherwise, the knowledge you have learned will not let you down.

Beautiful.

After taking the silver, Li Xiaohan suggested, "Mom, why don't we find a doctor at Renhetang to look at and nurse you back to health?"

Li Xiaohan thought this was a matter of course. Unexpectedly, after Wang lowered his head and thought for a moment, he made up his mind and replied: "No, my body has been dragging for more than ten years, and it is not far behind. Now our family has been divided." It's inconvenient to cook medicine at home, and if you spend money like this, it will be bad if everyone discovers Panax notoginseng. It's better to go back immediately, I remember there are several places, maybe it's Panax notoginseng too."

The more eager she is, the more unwilling she is to lose anything.

This has been her only hope for so many years, so this way of getting rich must not be discovered.

Li Xiaohan thought about it and nodded, "Mom, let's do what you said. After we build the house and move out, we will come to give you a good consultation and medicine."

Instead of seeing a doctor, Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang were anxious to go home, maybe they could still find Panax notoginseng.

Li Xiaohan didn't think so. He didn't say whether there was any real Panax notoginseng in those fake ginseng. Even if there was, it was probably not much.

Making a fortune cannot just rely on luck. Temporary wealth will not last long. You still need to work on a long-term job. It was a rare trip to the city. Li Xiaohan wanted to take a closer look at the environment in the city and what projects were suitable for his home.

Thinking this way, Li Xiaohan also did the same, "Dad, Mom, let's go over there and have a look."

The side that Li Xiaohan pointed to was a popular street with a lot of people and shops on both sides. It was what later generations would call a golden commercial zone, which was perfect for observing customs, consumption habits, etc.

=== Chapter === 7

Li Xiaohan took the lead and walked forward. Li Xiandong and Wang looked at each other and quickly raised their heels.

As soon as he entered, he saw a breakfast shop. Li Xiaohan touched his belly and found that the multigrain pancakes in the morning had already been digested. "Mom, Dad, we have been traveling all morning and we are hungry. Let's eat a bowl of noodles. We will have more noodles later." You're on your way back, don't get hungry."

Wang has only been to the city a few times. Before, she only thought about Sanqi. Now that Sanqi has been sold, she is feeling uneasy. How dare she think about eating in the city.

Although Li Xiandong came to the city a lot, he came to the city to sell straw sandals and work as a coolie. In order to save money, he naturally did not eat in the city. He always took two grain pancakes from home as a meal.

For a moment, no one said a word between the couple. They didn't even dare to think that they dared to eat in the city, and Li Xiaohan had already stepped into the food shop first.

This is a shop that specializes in pasta. A large pot of thick soup is boiling, and the aroma is overflowing. There are several layers of steamers stacked on the stove next to it, and the yellowish steamed buns on the steamer make you smile.

However, maybe it was already past breakfast time and not yet lunch time. There were not many diners in the shop. The waiter quickly came to greet him: "Girl, how many are there? Come, sit here, what would you like to eat?"

Li Xiaohan followed the waiter's guidance and sat down beside him, and asked skillfully: "You three, what do you have to eat here?"

"A bowl of plain noodles costs 4 cents, bolognese noodles cost 6 cents, steamed buns cost 2 cents each, and meat buns cost 4 cents each. Our meat sauce noodles are one of a kind, do you want to try them, girl?"

"Then let's have three bowls of meat sauce noodles and three steamed buns." After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, he turned to Father Li and Mother Li and whispered: "Father, mother, we are separated, and life will definitely get worse in the future. The better it comes. We didn't eat well before, so we can't starve ourselves to death. Taking medicine is very expensive."

Li Xiaohan was telling the truth. Although the Li family was an upper-middle-class family in Pingshan Village, if someone in the Li family was studying, they would have more places to spend money.

Moreover, the two elders of the Li family were partial, and all the hard work at home was assigned to the head of the eldest house. If Li Cairong was not about to be fourteen and had not yet passed the first test of the boy's examination, Li Xiandong and Wang would probably not be let go. Strong laborers go.

Therefore, Li Xiandong and Wang's health were actually in serious shortcomings. Li Xiaohan suspected that this was probably the reason why they could not have children.

Li Xiaohan himself is also very thin. At the age of thirteen, he is not as tall and strong as the ten-year-old children in his previous life.

Therefore, the whole family should eat well and take good care of their bodies. After all, the body is the foundation of everything.

Moreover, what Li Xiaohan did not say was that in addition to eating enough, Li Xiaohan also wanted to observe the food level of the world. If farming is not possible, would it be okay to set up a food stall?

When she first entered the city, she saw that some of the carts coming in were carrying kitchen utensils. They must have entered the city to set up food stalls.

In her previous life, she had lived alone for many years and could cook just fine. The worst she could do was to avoid telling her about her grandmother's spiritual teachings.

Life is not easy, you need to be versatile.

Li Xiandong and Wang were stunned by what Li Xiaohan said, and nodded hurriedly. When I heard the price, I felt extremely heartbroken, but I didn't dare to say it out loud.

Moreover, the money from the Panax notoginseng sold just now is still hot in Li Xiandong's arms, which makes me a little excited when I think about it.

Money is a man's courage. This saying has been true from ancient times to the present.

Li Xiandong and Wang had no objection, so Li Xiaohan sat down and observed the surrounding environment.

Her calm and calm posture attracted Mrs. Wang to keep peeking at her, "Daddy, Xiaohan is different from us, it's great."

Mrs. Wang said softly that she didn't know how to describe it, but she felt that her daughter seemed to be getting more and more beautiful after her mother-in-law asked her in a dream at the grave.

In the past, Li Xiaohan was also bold and a little man with many ideas, but not like he is now. Anyway, it was good.

"Just like our mother, she is so elegant." Li Xiandong also whispered. When Luo passed away, Li Xiandong was already seven years old. "My mother used to come from a wealthy family. She fled to our Pingshan Village and married my father."

"No wonder my mother-in-law entrusted her dream to Xiaohan and not to us. That's it." The two of them found a reason for Li Xiaohan's change and felt more at ease.

After a while, the hot noodle soup was served.

Li Xiaohan picked up the chopsticks and picked up some meat sauce first. The Li family raised pigs. Li Xiaohan knew that this dynasty already had the method of castrating pigs, so the smell of pork was not strong. However, the meat sauce was just right and tender, and the sauce was rich in flavor. No wonder The waiter in the shop dares to say that the waiter is excellent; the noodles are chewy, and it seems that the master who kneaded them is very skilled; but the soup base is a bit bland, probably because the price is such that there is no way to add a lot of meat to make a thick soup...

But here, Li Xiandong and Wang couldn't hold their heads up after eating. When had they ever eaten such delicious noodles?

This Fucheng is just different.

After the three of them finished eating, Li Xiandong took out the money and paid the bill.

"Dad, don't feel bad. The money was spent on us, so it won't be a loss." Li Xiaohan comforted Li Xiandong, who looked pained when paying.

"Hmm." Li Xiandong nodded dully. He talks little and is not stupid. Where does the family's money go? The most is spent on his nephew who is studying, the second is on his father Li Shengli and stepmother Chen, and the third is on other brothers. When it comes to nieces and nephews, they are the family in the end.

After eating, Li Xiaohan took him around again. When he met someone who was interested and asked about the price, he stopped to listen and take a look. He had an initial impression in his mind, but he didn't have any specific ideas yet.

Li Xiandong and Wang followed, feeling very uncomfortable. Fortunately, Li Xiaohan was not in a hurry to get the results right away. After wandering around for a while, he finally said, "Dad, let's go. The Panax notoginseng in the mountains is still waiting for us."

Sure enough, as soon as these words came out, Li Xiandong and Wang no longer felt anxious, and their faces were ignited with fighting spirit.

At noon, the three members of the Li family returned home, changed into the rough kudzu and linen clothes they wore for working, then picked up their backpacks and plunged into the mountains behind them.

She held three big steamed buns bought in the city in her arms. After all, the family was separated and all the food had been distributed. The housekeeper, Mrs. Chen, would not be happy to eat together again.

A family of three went into the mountains, and everyone was even more excited because they made money selling Panax notoginseng in the morning. Wang relied on her vague memory and found a place where fake ginseng was sold.

Unfortunately, it's not the real Sanqi.

Such wild and precious medicinal materials are not so easy to come by.

"Dad, Mom, it's okay. There are so many Sanqi all over the mountain. We have already sold them once. Pay more attention to them later. If you have them, it's best. If you don't have them, it doesn't matter."

Yes, after all, seventy-six taels were recorded. Wang and Li Xiandong's enthusiastic hearts slowly calmed down.

"Dad, Mom, let's go plant the seeds we soaked yesterday into dad's field." Li Xiaohan said, "If these seeds can germinate, we will really make money on our own."

After listening to Li Xiaohan's words, Wang and Li Xiandong's depressed hearts ignited a burst of hope again.

Yes, if they can grow Panax notoginseng, it will be a stable job.

The three of them walked towards Li Xiandong's mountains together.

Speaking of the mountains, the Li clan had clan land at first. Later, the clan leader sensed that war was about to start, and then there was a natural disaster. They simply sold the clan land and exchanged it for gold, and the whole clan ran away.

And it turned out that the clan leader was right. However, after fleeing to Pingshan Village, it was impossible to buy back the large tracts of ancestral land. There was not enough money, and the good land was not available to the Li family who had fled.

The ancestors of the Li family bought a large piece of mountain land here as a replacement for the family farmland.

Most of the mountainous areas of the clan are planted with fruit trees or other useful timber, and are used as public land, and the output is used by the clan to support the elderly and the young, and to educate the children of the clan.

Members of the Li clan, if their family encounters a big disaster, such as a serious illness, they can borrow money from the clan and slowly return it after they get through the difficulty;

There is also clan education in the clan, whether it is the husband's fees, the board and lodging in the school, or the books for learning calligraphy, they are also supported by the public land. Of course, clan education does not support studying. If you have not passed the first test of childbirth at the age of fourteen, you will No longer supported.

Theoretically, the output of the Li clan's common land can provide cover for sudden disasters for the Li clan, and at the same time fully support the future and hope of the entire clan.

But because mountainous areas are more difficult to manage than fields and have lower output, the other part is simply allocated to the men of the clan to manage, and the output belongs to individuals. In this way, throughout a Li family man's life, the firewood he uses daily, the furniture wood he uses for weddings and houses, and even the wood he needs to live long after his death all come from this land. The income from the annual fruit production also belongs to the individual.

The lingering shadow of the ancestors benefits future generations.

Of course, on the other hand, it also strengthened the concept of having a son. After all, there is no distinction between women in the mountains of the Li family.

What Li Xiaohan was talking about was the mountainous land allocated to Li Xiandong by the clan.

To sow Panax notoginseng seeds, you need to dig a hole, apply base fertilizer, lightly cover with soil, and then cover with weeds.

The three of them planted about a thousand seeds, and they were so tired that they almost couldn't straighten their waists.

Just like that, Li Xiandong still supported the tree in the forest and said, "Bring a wooden bucket tomorrow morning. I need to water some water."

He is a veteran in tending crops. Once the seeds are planted, they need to be watered to germinate.

Li Xiaohan also understood that it was best to pour some root-fixing water now, but they didn't bring a bucket with them when they came out, so it would be too conspicuous to go back.

Just wait until tomorrow morning.

=== Chapter === 8

The three of them returned home, cooked something and ate, and then hid in the room. They felt more and more awkward in this home.

"Dad, when are we going to build a house? Nothing is convenient at home." Li Xiaohan whispered to Li Xiandong in the room.

"Yeah." Li Xiandong nodded muffledly. He now felt like an outsider.

"First of all, I have to set aside a portion of my family's money for my mother's medical treatment. In the past, my mother would seek medicine from a doctor called You Fangzhong, but after so many years, it has not worked. Now that we have money, we will go to Renhe Hall to find a doctor, a doctor from Renhe Hall. It's definitely better than Wandering Doctor."

As soon as Li Xiaohan said these words, Li Xiandong and Wang's eyes immediately flashed.

"However, before Mom can see a doctor and take medicine, we have to build a house and move out."

Go as fast as you can, as far as you can from this home.

"Tomorrow I will go to the city to order the bricks and tiles for building the house, and then I will ask for a good day to start the groundbreaking." Li Xiandong thought for a moment and then answered.

Li Xiaohan was not familiar with the process of building a house. Modern people generally buy commercial houses. Even if they build a house by themselves, there is a mature construction team. Once the contract is signed, most problems will be handled by professionals.

Fortunately, her father had expanded the house in his old house and had some experience in this. Li Xiaohan just encouraged her father, "Yeah, dad, we must make our house spacious and comfortable."

Our house.

Li Xiandong was moved by these words.

Now that he has money, Li Xiandong no longer has to worry about the money to build a house, and unlimited fantasies suddenly arise in his heart.

House, house.

What do you want your house to look like?

It must be large and spacious. We need to build a brick house with four main rooms and four east and west wing rooms. There is no need for a side room...

Early the next morning, Li Xiaohan's family of three went out early to avoid the villagers. They first watered the Panax notoginseng transplanted yesterday, and then Li Xiandong rushed to the city alone carrying a basket on his back, which contained the straw sandals Wang had knitted in the past.

"Dad, come back as soon as you order the bricks and tiles. You will be the backbone of our family from now on, and my mother and I are completely dependent on you." Li Xiaohan looked up at Li Xiandong with eyes full of dependence and trust and said.

Li Xiandong was supported by one sentence on the left and all on you on the right, which aroused an endless sense of responsibility and motivation. He felt that he had never been so needed and affirmed. The road down the mountain to the city was as fast as wind and fire.

Turning around, Li Xiaohan said calmly, "Mom, let's keep going up the mountain to look for Sanqi. Maybe we can find her again. Anyway, we are separated now, so we don't have to do this housework anymore."

Mrs. Wang was just cowardly because she was suppressed, but she was not stupid. After a pause, she got the courage from nowhere, picked up her backpack, and the mother and daughter entered the mountain.

Busy time always passes very quickly. In the blink of an eye, at sunset and dusk, the two women Wang and Li Xiaohan hurried out of the forest. It is not safe in the mountains at night.

The mother and daughter returned home and saw that the sky was getting dark before Li Xiandong hurried back from the city, sweating profusely and his face flushed.

"Dad, come here, drink a bowl of water." Li Xiaohan hurriedly handed over the water that had been dried earlier. It was a September day and there were still hot flashes in the afternoon. His father must have been gone all afternoon.

"Have the bricks and tiles been laid out? Have you considered a good time?" Li Shengli asked when his eldest son came back from the city.

"Say it. Forget it, the day after tomorrow." Li Xiandong said naa.

"Okay, I will ask your two brothers to help you the day after tomorrow."

After talking about building a house, the father and son fell into awkward silence again.

After a while, Li Xiandong lowered his head and said in a low voice: "Dad, I'll go in first."

"Yeah." Li Shengli sighed.

Time passed quickly, and soon the day of breaking ground came.

Li Shengli took three brothers, Li Xiandong, Li Xianxi, and Li Xiannan, and the four of them worked hard to cut the grass.

You must first cut off the weeds on the property, then rake the grass roots clean and level the ground before proceeding to the next step, otherwise the weeds will grow wildly and destroy the foundation.

Li Xiaohan felt something was wrong. In this life, it's not like modern times, with all kinds of modern tools and supporting workers. Her family built a house with only four strong laborers: her grandfather, biological father and two uncles? Even if it's just laying the foundation now, isn't that right?

wrong.

Something is wrong!

Li Xiaohan was puzzled.

Li Xiandong felt like a failure.

According to the tradition of Pingshan Village, close brothers and clan members will come to help with hard work such as digging the foundation. Only when the bricks and tiles are actually laid, will the house builder be asked to guide.

Now that he is digging the foundation, not only does he have no close clan members, but the only people who help him are his father and brothers.

Li Xiandong was very frightened and confused. He just thought it was because he was not popular, and he was afraid of life after the separation. He did not dare to face it, so he could only work hard.

While Li Xiaohan was following Wang's group to clean up the weeds, he was wondering why.

"Mom, our family is building a house, have you notified other people?" Li Xiaohan asked with a frown.

"Who should I inform?" Ms. Wang was in a panic. She instinctively felt that the situation was wrong, but she couldn't find a way out. "I don't know. No, can I just tell dad?"

ah!

Found the reason!

Li Xiaohan held his forehead in his heart, feeling speechless and helpless for a moment.

Due to their personalities, Li Xiandong and Mr. Wang have always avoided working in the village and have no good friends with anyone.

According to the custom of Pingshan Village, her grandfather had no control over who was in charge of the family. Her father had not yet realized his status as the head of the family and could not support such human relations, so no one came to help.

Honest people can't play it.

Looking at his father who was working hard and hard, Li Xiaohan had a headache. The reason has been found, but now how to break it.

If she remembered correctly, for such a big event, the family members had to personally go and show caution. How could she persuade her father? And can you listen to your father's current state of mind?

Or are you counting on your grandfather?

Forget it, Grandpa doesn't have any hope anymore, let's think of other methods.

Li Xiaohan lowered his head to work while frantically searching for memories in his mind.

Wait until the afternoon, "Mom, I'll leave for a while."

Li Xiaohan thought of a way, but was not sure whether it would work or not, but the current situation did not allow her to hesitate any longer.

"Yes." Mrs. Wang was uneasy now and nodded in agreement. She felt that her daughter quickly ran away after burning the incense, and then ran back again.

In the evening, Li Xiandong and others worked all day. After returning home, they went to their rooms to rest. They kept their heads down and bent over mowing the grass and digging the ground. It was not an easy job.

"Head of the family, I heard from the third child that no one is going to help the boss build his house today?" Mrs. Chen brought Li Shengli foot-washing water and asked worriedly.

"Yeah." Li Shengli said muffledly.

"If you ask me, the boss is a bit lonely. He doesn't have a good relationship with anyone in the village. People say that if the father is strong, the son will be weak. They are used to relying on you. Now that the family is separated, they will not be able to stand up for a while, or I have to rely on you." As she said this, Mrs. Chen sighed, "When we get old, the eldest brother won't have a son, so we will have to rely on Evergreen in the future."

Li Shengli lowered his head and washed his feet without speaking.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Chen was right, and the more he thought about it, the more embarrassed he felt. Li Shengli simply covered himself with a quilt and fell asleep.

Mrs. Chen poured the foot-washing water out of the room. It was late at night and there was no one around. She curled her lips into the darkness.

On Li Xiandong's side, Mrs. Wang said cautiously, "Dad, why don't I dig the ground together tomorrow, and Xiaohan can help with picking out rocks, weeding and other odd jobs."

"We don't need you. The work of digging the foundation is heavy. Doctor Zhang said that your body needs to be taken care of." Li Xiandong looked at the dark front, gritted his teeth, and said with the stubbornness and ruthlessness of an honest man, "Father, if they are willing to help us, just accept the love." , I don't want me to work hard by myself. If it doesn't happen in one day, it won't happen in two days, but it can always be done in three, five or ten days. I will definitely build our home."

"Yeah." Wang didn't dare to persuade her any more.

As for Dongpou Fang, Li Xiaohan wondered if his cousin had brought his words to him. Do you want to run again tomorrow morning?

=== Chapter === 9

Early the next morning, the atmosphere in the Li family was dull. Amid the dullness, it seemed like some kind of storm was brewing.

After breakfast, the Li family came to Li Xiandong's homestead, only to see nine big men waving their weapons at work on the property.

Li Xiaohan showed a bright smile: Her second uncle Li Shengyi is here.

Yesterday afternoon, she went to her second uncle's house to inform her that her father had split up the family and was building a house. She hoped that her second uncle could come over and help.

If she goes, his father is an overly honest man who doesn't know and doesn't know how to speak. His second uncle will not care about a little girl like her.

As her grandfather's second brother, her second uncle was older and had a lot of hard work in the family, but the blood relationship was close enough. As long as her second uncle brought people to help, her father would not be disgraced to an outsider even if he was embarrassed.

As for the favors you owe, let's get over this hurdle first, and then pay it back later. This is what Li Xiaohan planned.

Unfortunately, all the adults in her second uncle's family went out to work in the afternoon, so she could only ask her cousin to leave a message for her. Now it seems that the cousin really brought the words to her.

Looking more closely, the people working there are Li Guiqian and Li Guihou, the sons of the second uncle, and their grandsons Li Jiajin, Li Jiayin, Li Jiacai, and Li Jiabao have all brought them. This manpower is sufficient.

But why are there Li Xinhe, the patriarch's son, and Li Deyou, the third uncle's grandson? Could it be that their second uncle informed them? Li Xiaohan was confused.

When he saw Li Xiandong and others, Li Shengli's second brother Li Shengyi scolded him as soon as he opened his mouth: "Xiandong, I heard that you want to build a house and dig a foundation. Why didn't you inform the elders about such a big thing?"

The words were meant to be scolding, but her second uncle was an elder and scolded her father without losing face.

This was both a scolding and a step down for her father.

Sure enough, Li Xiandong was like a piece of wet and gray wood, which was suddenly lifted up. "Second uncle, it's my fault, I missed it."

"I'm sorry that you just separated, so it's normal to not understand. Don't be so confused in the future."

"Yes, Second Uncle." The wet and gray wood started to burn.

With this step, it will be easier for others to speak.

"Uncle Xiandong, why didn't you notify me when you built the house? Do you think my father is busy and I can't do the work?" Li Xinhe, the patriarch's son, spoke first. He was a generation younger than Li Xiandong, "I have to show off my skills today." okay."

"Hahaha, Xinhe, I'm not telling you, but your two skills are not enough in front of your Uncle Xian Dong. When your Uncle Xian Dong helped my family build a house, you were a good man."

Cousin Li Guiqian stepped forward and slapped Li Xiandong on the arm, "Xiandong, tell these brats that we are still the ones doing the work."

"Haha, uncle Guiqian, let me show you the enthusiasm of our young people. Isn't it right? The rich brother of the family and the silver brother of the family."

…

Suddenly, the atmosphere became lively, and Li Xiaohan breathed a sigh of relief, it was finally solved.

Not only did she help dig the foundation, she was also afraid that her father would be isolated. It was really difficult for such a withdrawn and ostracized person to live in the clan era.

"Come on, Xiandong, tell me what kind of house you want to build, and we'll dig the foundation for you." Seeing that the atmosphere had become lively, Li Shengyi brought the topic back to business.

Li Xiandong pointed to the house, the structure of the front house and the vegetable garden behind it, and the framework of four main rooms in the front and two wing rooms in the east and west. As for the houses, if you have money, you can build them together. If you don't have money, you can build two rooms first and then expand them slowly. Most of the houses built in Pingshan Village are like this.

Li Xiandong's idea was to put up the frame first, and then let the master build it when the house was built. At that time, his father asked him where the money came from, and if he elaborated, the house would have been built by then.

Once you have a plan, it will be easier to handle. Everyone will cut the grass and dig ditches together.

There are more than ten people, and they are all good at work, so they naturally work quickly and in harmony.

But while the work was in full swing, Li Xiaohan quietly pulled Wang and Li Xiandong aside, "Father, mother, now that my second uncle has brought people over to help, do we have to serve lunch?"

Li Xiandong and Wang seemed to be woken up by a hammer, and they said repeatedly, "Yes, yes, that's right, we want to entertain people for dinner."

However, Mrs. Wang panicked, "How...how do we cook? We don't have any vegetables or meat? What...what should we do?"

Mrs. Chen was usually in charge of the work in the kitchen. Mrs. Wang had only cooked pig food. Now that she was suddenly asked to take care of the meals for so many people, she had no way of starting.

Hearing what Wang said, Li Xiandong also panicked - as a man, he usually didn't care about the kitchen.

"Don't worry, leave it to me. I already thought about it when I asked my second uncle to come over. Just listen to me, mother." Actually, no, it's just that it's not that difficult to make a meal - it's not When placing wine in the room, be very particular about it, as long as you can eat enough.

After the March 71 incident, Li Xiaohan had already established his authority in front of Li Xiandong and Wang. Especially at this moment, Li Shengyi was called over by Li Xiaohan. When Li Xiaohan said this, the two immediately believed it.

"Okay, okay, okay, mother, I will listen to you." Wang seemed to have found her backbone.

I saw Li Xiaohan holding his head high and walking to Li Shengli with a smile, "Grandpa, my second uncle brought people over to help. We can't be rude. My mother and I will go home to pick vegetables and cook."

To entertain people, you must have food and food. Li Xiandong has just been allocated the family food for half a year, so he can only pick food from the old house. But it doesn't matter, Li Shengli loves face, and he will not object at this time.

"Okay. You two go back first. Make things better." As expected, Li Shengli didn't think there was any problem at all, and even ordered things to be made better.

"Yes, grandfather." Li Xiaohan smiled very respectfully.

=== Chapter === 10

With Li Shengli's permission, Wang and Li Xiaohan left first and returned to their old house. It was time for work in the morning, washing clothes, mowing grass, and taking care of the fields. There was no one in the old house. Li Xiaohan Mr. Wang and Mr. Wang arrived at the vegetable patch behind the house smoothly.

The Li family's vegetable garden is well taken care of, but because there are so many people in the family, Mrs. Chen usually only thinks about eating vegetables. Mrs. Wang looked at it and was about to pick some water spinach, which is the fastest growing and most common, but Li Xiaohan whispered, "Mom, I don't like to eat water spinach."

Water spinach is the most common vegetable in farmers' homes, and I'm tired of eating it every day.

Li Xiaohan crossed his legs and ran to Chen's most precious courgette patch. He picked five of Chen's favorite courgettes in a row, then handed them to Wang, "Mom, hold them for me."

Mrs. Wang was holding her mother-in-law's favorite courgette, feeling very uneasy. Li Xiaohan took another step, brushed and picked six tender loofahs.

Oh, my mother-in-law has always been planning to eat the loofahs. Most of them will have to be made into loofah pouches when she is old.

Mrs. Wang was simply frightened by her daughter's boldness, and her whole body began to tremble. She didn't know whether it was fear or excitement.

"Mom, let's go." Li Xiaohan held six loofahs and greeted his mother.

Back in the house, Li Xiaohan asked Mrs. Wang to cook the brown rice and then washed the courgette and loofah himself. Since Wang was only good at cooking pig food, and she had never used an earthen stove before, and today was very important, Li Xiaohan thought for a while and decided to make a loofah and egg soup and add a mixed courgette. These two home-cooked dishes were very important to her. It's not difficult.

As for the eggs, she would dig out the chicken coop later.

Quickly peel and cut the courgette, smash it into pieces with the back of a knife, put it into a large basin, pour in soybean paste, vinegar and chopped garlic, stir evenly, wait for the flavor to infuse, and the dish is complete.

Mrs. Wang was stunned when she saw her daughter's nimble movements - usually such a good job as cooking was not the responsibility of Wang and Li Xiaohan, but now Li Xiaohan was so nimble.

"Mom, my grandmother taught me, let me teach you in the future." Li Xiaohan said nonsense, this grandmother is naturally his own grandmother.

Sure enough, Wang had no doubts.

After processing, pat the cucumber, peel the loofah and cut it into pieces. Then he pulled off a strip of bacon hanging from the beam and cut it into thin slices.

After these preparations were completed, Li Xiaohan asked Mr. Wang to heat up the cooking pot, pour in lard, and after the oil melted, scoop out some of the hot oil and pour it on the courgettes - in fact, vegetable oil should be used, but where is it now? Given this condition, it would be good to have lard.

Mrs. Wang felt frightened when she saw Li Xiaohan using oil. Although she had never cooked food, she had eaten it. There was so much oil and gas on weekdays.

Could it be that my mother-in-law has been unhappy with her step-mother for a long time and is taking advantage of this. Wang thought for a while and realized that she must be on the side of her mother-in-law, so she lowered her head and said nothing.

Add water to the remaining lard, and after boiling, Li Xiaohan poured the bacon and loofah in. The loofah was so full that it crowded the pot, almost squeezing the bacon out of sight.

"Mom, you light the fire, and I'll touch an egg."

"Oh." Wang said fearfully.

Li Xiaohan walked quickly to the chicken coop. There were about ten hens in the house, most of which were fed by Li Xiaohan on weekdays. They were not afraid of Li Xiaohan at all. Li Xiaohan looked around and found six eggs. Go back to the kitchen, crack all the eggs and pour them in later.

After the food was cooked, Mrs. Chen went out and came back.

Li Xiaohan took the initiative and said, "Grandma, you are back. We have been looking for you for a long time. My second uncle brought people over to help our family build a house, and he asked us to come back and find you to cook and entertain people. My mother and I were so anxious, grandma , we don't know how to cook the meat and vegetables at home, so we are just waiting for you to come."

Chen's forehead was jumping up and down, and there was so much information that he couldn't react at the moment.

And Li Xiaohan didn't give her any time to react, "Grandma, my grandfather respects my second uncle the most. Brother Xinhe and Brother Deyou are here this time. The meal must be prepared well. You must not lose your grandfather." Do you want to kill the chicken to save your face? Let's kill it now! It's too late!"

Why kill a chicken?

How could she deserve to kill her chicken!

Chen's words almost blurted out, but when they came to her lips, she thought of Li Shengli's temper - indeed, no one in this family could make Li Shengli lose face, and Li Shengli would not be lenient.

"What did you cook?"

"I mixed a courgette and cooked a loofah soup." Li Xiaohan looked very anxious.

Her courgette, her loofah, Mrs. Chen gritted her teeth and glanced at the kitchen. Indeed, she saw only a patch of green in the pot. She held her forehead and said, "I have a headache again. I have to go back to the room to rest. We are separated." , you two, mother and daughter, can figure it out on your own."

After saying that, Ms. Chen put down her backpack and entered the room very weakly. As for killing chickens, there is definitely no such thing.

"Grandma, grandma..." Li Xiaohan shouted anxiously.

If Mrs. Chen doesn't help, Li Xiaohan and Mr. Wang seem to have no choice.

I heard a movement in the kitchen, but it was definitely not chicken killing. Then Wang opened the door and ran out, and then a lot of noisy footsteps came in. It seemed that everyone was back for dinner.

"There were many people in the family and there were not enough bowls and chopsticks, so my mother and I thought that everyone should eat first and then cook a pot later for my cousin and others to come back to eat." Li Xiaohan explained.

This time is a little earlier than the usual meal time, but it doesn't matter much.

"It's okay, you can eat first." Li Shengli greeted, "Brother, you sit down, Xinhe and Deyou, you can also sit down."

After a row of people sat down, Li Shengli realized something was wrong, "Where is your mother? She's not back yet?"

"Grandpa, grandma had another headache and was resting in her room." Li Xiaohan explained.

Sure enough, there was a faint trembling sound in the room.

"Okay, then forget about her. Let's eat first. After eating, we will work for half an afternoon and lay the foundation."

"Yes, grandfather." Li Xiaohan and Wang hurriedly served the dishes and the bowls and chopsticks.

The dishes are very simple and are served separately, with two large basins of cold courgettes and two large basins of loofah soup. But the advantage is that the quantity is large and the ingredients are sufficient. In the loofah soup, bacon can be seen everywhere, and there are clumps of frangipani.

"The pot can't be filled. There's still more in the pot. I'll fill it again after eating." Li Xiaohan said.

However, Li Shengli felt that he was still not satisfied, "It's too crude."

"We are our own people. We have meat and vegetables, but it's not as simple as it is. It's good. Do we need to have a banquet?" Li Shengyi said, picking up a chopstick of bacon. The bacon was cut really thick and solid.

After Li Shengyi said this, Li Shengli's complexion became better. He said nothing more and just said, "Come, come, eat, eat."

After finishing the meal, everyone hurriedly went to work on Li Xiandong's homestead.

As soon as everyone left, Mrs. Chen immediately ran out of the room. The more she thought about it, the more something was wrong. Judging from Li Shengli's attitude, it didn't look like the dish was bad.

Sure enough, when she looked into the soup pot, there were only a few pieces of loofah left, and nothing could be seen. Mrs. Chen looked up suddenly, and there was one piece of bacon missing from her.

That's a whole long piece of bacon. In the past, it was only eaten during festivals, and it had to be divided into several meals.

"Grandma, grandfather just said 'it's too simple', but what should I do? Do you want to kill the chicken tonight? As expected, I'd better kill it."

"Why kill? Our families are separated. If you want chicken, buy it with money." Mrs. Chen finally couldn't help it anymore and blurted out angrily.

"Then... well, I'll ask my father and my grandfather." Li Xiaohan said, pretending to be scared.

Haha, with her grandfather's face-saving characteristics, she can at least handle it a little more. These chickens were raised by their mother and daughter with so much hard work.

After washing the dishes, Li Xiaohan and Mr. Wang went to the homestead to help. With more people and greater strength, the foundation was dug before the application time. Li Shengyi took the people back, saying only that they would come over to help when the materials and master arrived. .

As for the food, I won't eat it. If it's not enough, let's talk about it next time.

Li Shengyi: I'm not a fool. When does Mrs. Chen not have a headache? If she has a headache now, it's because her stepson doesn't want to help. Check it out next time and give Li Xiandong some time to prepare.

There was no need to eat in the evening. Mrs. Chen was just glad that her chickens were saved, but she finally took off her mask and said in a strange tone, "Xiandong, isn't it my mother who said that after we divide the family, it should be like a family separation?" , you will have a lot of time to build a house in the future. If you put in all the hard work, you can't take advantage of your family every time."

He only talked about Li Xiandong until his face turned pale.

"Dad, don't be sad. You are not my biological child after all. Forget it, forget it. Now that you have realized it, there is no hope anymore. Go back to your room." Li Xiaohan comforted Li Xiandong while helping him go back to his room. Before leaving, he put down a cold arrow, " You are not like my third uncle, who is my biological son, so my grandmother will definitely take care of everything when the family separates."

Ms. Chen was so stifled that she didn't know where to start. Should she argue that she was not a stepmother, or that Li Xianxi didn't help, or that Li Xianxi didn't separate the family.

Li Xianxi seemed to have been awakened by something, and his eyes narrowed, but he soon returned to his usual selfless self.

"Third brother, don't worry, you're still young." Ms. Chen quickly comforted her.

"Mom, I will listen to you." Li Xianxi's smile did not reach her eyes.

Leaving an ambush for his step-grandmother, Li Xiaohan followed her parents back to their room.

"Xiaohan, what are you going to do about cooking from now on?"

"It's okay, dad and mom, I have a way."

=== Chapter === 11

In the next few days, bricks, stones and tiles came in turn, and on the fourth day, the construction of the house officially started.

Early in the morning, Li Xinhe, the son of the patriarch, Li Deyou, the grandson of the third uncle, and Li Guiqian, the eldest son of Li Shengyi's family, came with their youngest son Li Jiayin, carrying hoes and empty loads. Only four people came this time, but it was enough. Digging the foundation was a heavy effort and required many people. Building walls only required someone to help the builder.

It's just that Li Xiaohan doesn't understand. It was normal for the second uncle's family to come. After all, he had asked his second uncle's grandfather to help, so he would definitely help to the end. Why did Li Xinhe and Li Deyou come again? My house is not familiar with theirs. They came to dig the foundation. Why did they come at this time?

Li Xiaohan looked at the two of them with doubts in his eyes.

Li Deyou touched his head. Although he didn't understand it very well, he still told the truth, "Grandpa asked me to come over and learn from it."

Li Xinhe smiled and said, "Me too."

In fact, Li Xinhe knew that his father, as the patriarch, presided over such an unfair family division and ultimately treated Li Xiandong's family badly. Therefore, in order for Li Xiandong's family to be established as soon as possible and to compensate for the unfair treatment of the clan, he and Li Deyou, as the descendants of the clan leader and clan elder, were sent to help Li Xiandong's family build a house as compensation.

It's just that these things are difficult to explain clearly after all.

Li Xiaohan didn't know the inside story, but the clan leader and his third uncle were able to send people, which obviously benefited his family, so Li Xiaohan didn't say anything. Besides, it was useless for her to say anything. There was still too little she could say and do now.

However, Li Xiandong was still deeply moved. He knew that this was the importance the clan paid to him, and for a moment, he was greatly encouraged.

Several people helped unload the bricks and stones. Li Guiqian looked at the stones and said, "Brother Xian Dong, your foundation stone is not bad."

Li Guiqian himself has two sons, and the family will be separated in the future. The reason why he brought the younger son Li Jiayin instead of the eldest son Li Jiajin is also obvious, which is to learn how to build a house.

"This is a good foundation stone for the quarry. If you build it well, it will last for a hundred years." said the two masters who followed them into the site.

These two masters are the house builders specially invited from the city. Generally, villagers build houses. If it is a mud house, the villagers can build it by themselves. But if it is a brick house, it is necessary to hire a house builder from the city. I brought it with me, because only the masters in the city had the three-piece earthwork technique to lay the bricks and stones together.

Seeing the master here leading the orderly progress, Li Xiaohan stood up and went to her mother to help.

Wang was feeling a little panicked now.

After the quarrel last time, her mother-in-law openly and secretly stopped her family from cooking in the old house, and her father-in-law didn't say a word, so she agreed.

My daughter then suggested buying pots and pans, meat, vegetables and eggs, and cooking in the new homestead.

Now that everything is ready, Wang is still a little uneasy.

"Mom, what are you thinking about?" Li Xiaohan came over and saw Wang standing there anxiously, and asked aloud.

"Xiaohan, is it really okay to just cook something in a whole earthen stove?" Wang asked anxiously

"Why is this not possible? Why don't we just eat without a ready-made kitchen?" Li Xiaohan asked.

For those pastoral bloggers' videos from previous lives, don't have too many videos of various types of camping and picnics, and don't have too many clicks. After all, my family has a pot, meat and vegetables. Although the meat is palm-sized and semi-fat, the vegetables are wild vegetables ready to be picked.

"That's better than not having anything to eat..."

Mrs. Wang didn't hesitate for long. Although she was weak-tempered, she was not stupid. Building a house was not something that could be done in a day or two. It was better to rely on her step-mother-in-law than to hope that money would fall from the sky. She hesitated, just not confident in herself.

"Mom, don't think about it. Just do what we discussed yesterday. We bought all the pots and prepared the oil, salt, sauce and vinegar. We cut out the fat from the pork we sold yesterday and put the lard residue after frying into vegetables. Fry together. If there is oil and water, it will be delicious."

"Is this okay?"

"What's wrong, Mom, just eat enough and it tastes good, right?"

Wang's last concern was, "Why do we need to eat wild vegetables? Why don't we go back to the vegetable garden to pick some vegetables."

Li Xiaohan sighed, "Mom, it's not like you don't know about our vegetable garden. After last time, grandma has been watching her closely. If you want to pick vegetables, you have to ask grandma, and maybe there will be a scene. Besides, we We are in a hurry to divide the family, and there is no food in the vegetable garden for us to cook for the family. If there is food this time, it will not be enough later, so we can't rely on the vegetable garden of the old house."

"It's better to just use wild vegetables on the first day. Whether you use wild vegetables or other vegetables in the future, it will only get better and better. Isn't it better than having no way to use wild vegetables again in the future?"

This is how people are, most people can only accept getting better and better, but cannot accept getting worse and worse. Since there will definitely be no vegetables in the back, my family can't buy vegetables for every meal, and my relationship with the people in the village is not good, so I can only eat wild vegetables, so it is better to eat wild vegetables from the first meal.

After all, lowering your expectations the first time will make it easier to be satisfied in the future.

Wang was persuaded by Li Xiaohan. She was not a person with ideas to begin with, so she followed Li Xiaohan to pick wild vegetables with a basket.

Although it is September and autumn is approaching, there are still many wild vegetables in the fields. With the weather getting better this year, people no longer care about eating wild vegetables, especially some old people, who were really hurt when they fled.

Li Xiaohan specially picked the fattest and lushest wild vegetables. Soon the mother and daughter picked a basket, washed them by the river and brought them back.

"Mom, let me teach you how to cook today. Grandma asked you to learn how to cook." Li Xiaohan said. It's impossible for Wang to never know how to cook. Now, in the name of his own grandmother, he is teaching Wang to be the best.

"Oh, oh." Wang nodded nervously.

"First fry in oil. Cut the fat into pieces and simmer over low heat."

"Okay, the oil is ready, take it out first. Leave a little in the pot and start cooking. Mom, put some wild onions and garlic. I like the taste."

Put the wild onions and wild garlic in, and there was a sound of frying and cracking. The smell was so fragrant that it gave Wang a little confidence.

"Mom, do you remember that you didn't put any oil in the noodle dish after boiling it? It doesn't matter. Now the oil is fragrant. You scoop it up and mix it, and it will be the same. Come on, let me pour the water out of the dish for you. This looks oily and oily."

…

The people working nearby were too far away to see what was cooking, and they were too embarrassed to ask. I could only hear the sound of the cooking pot getting louder, I could smell the fragrance getting better and better, and I could feel myself getting hungrier and full of anticipation.

=== Chapter === 12

Soon, in Li Xiandong's new homestead, two large bowls of wild vegetables were placed on a table built with a few stones and a wooden board. Although the dishes contained diced meat, they were still wild vegetables. The pot next to them contained a pot of semi-dry brown rice.

This meal was made in front of everyone's eyes. As much as we hoped, we would be disappointed.

The young master was very dissatisfied: The masonry ordered by the master was very good, but the food was fooled like this? The first meal on the first day of work. There was no serious meat, but wild vegetables?

As the host, Li Xiandong felt embarrassed and greeted with a dry smile, "Come, come, come, let's eat and eat."

He knew that the food was a bit shabby, but he really didn't want to bow his head and beg his stepmother. Li Xiaohan had told them in advance, but it was still awkward at the moment.

Everyone in the Li family at the table knew about the situation of Li Xiandong's family, so they were considerate of him. However, they were members of the family, so it didn't matter. However, the master bricklayer who was having dinner with them was an outsider.

Sure enough, the young chef's mouth turned down slightly, showing displeasure on his face. On the contrary, it was the older chef who looked at the two plates of vegetable oil and followed Li Xiandong to take off his chopsticks.

But as soon as the dish was in his mouth, the old chef smiled and said, "This dish is good. My wife is very good at it."

After saying that, he picked up a large set of chopsticks, found a random rock to sit on, and started eating with big mouthfuls.

As soon as the old master said this, the atmosphere became lively. Everyone in the Li family followed the pickling and were quickly fascinated by the wild vegetables.

"It turns out that noodles mixed with oil are so delicious, sour and a little sweet." The most active Li Deyou took a big bite.

"The stir-fried shepherd's purse with diced pork is also very good, mixed with the aroma of meat." Li Jiayin, the next youngest, also said.

When the young chef saw everyone saying this, he also tried to pick up his chopsticks, but he couldn't eat.

This clamp can't be stopped.

Seeing that the most difficult young master was like this, Li Xiandong finally felt relieved.

There are differences between men and women. Wang and Li Xiaohan ate alone in the shed.

"Mom, I told you before, it's okay, but you don't believe me." Li Xiaohan comforted her while eating the food.

Wang picked up a piece of shepherd's purse with chopsticks and chewed it carefully, finally believing what Li Xiaohan said, it would be no problem.

After lunch, Li Xiannan hurried over.

Seeing that everyone had been working for a long time, but he, as his biological brother, only arrived in the afternoon, Li Xiannan explained with embarrassment, "I was late, and my parents asked me to set up the boundary stones for the fields."

Everyone listened and felt that this was no big problem.

The brothers settled their accounts clearly and set up the boundary stones when they first separated, so as not to lose their brotherly love for that one and a half cents in the future.

"That's right. You came late and didn't taste your sister-in-law's craftsmanship." Li Xiandong said with a smile. Now that I think about it, after we separate, we become two families, and it doesn't seem to matter anymore.

"Yes, Brother Xiannan, you are late. We only found out at noon that sister-in-law Xiandong's cooking is very good. But you can still try the meal in the evening." Li Deyou, the most active one, said.

"That must be true." Li Xiannan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that everyone was just saying polite words.

After a short rest, the men started working again. The weather is good and the sun is shining brightly, so the foundation of the house is the best and stable. In case of heavy rain, work will have to be semi-stopped. So when the weather is good, it's time to grab time.

Wang and Li Xiaohan were on the side, washing the dishes and chopsticks with plant ashes.

The praise from everyone at noon gave Wang confidence. In the afternoon, she went to the field with the basket and brought back a basket of Wuta vegetables.

Regarding Wutaicai, Li Xiaohan said this:

"Mom, everyone sweats a lot from working and is very thirsty. Otherwise, you can make some Wuta vegetables into soup."

"Mom, but the Wutai vegetables seem a bit thin after adding water. Why don't you add an egg and make some white batter?"

So, dinner was a cold black-tie vegetable and a black-tie vegetable and egg batter soup.

With the wild vegetables as a base at noon, everyone accepted the wild vegetables for dinner very well.

As long as it's delicious, it doesn't matter whether it's a wild vegetable or not.

"Hey, I like this Wutai vegetable very well. It's fresh in the mouth, but it's very solid when chewed. Especially this Wutai vegetable soup, which is really good for my stomach in this weather." Li Deyou shook his head while eating. Reviews.

"Eat more if you like it." Li Xiandong said with joy on his face.

He looked at everyone carefully. Although the others were not as straightforward as Li Deyou, they were not slow in using chopsticks. Especially the young master, there was no trace of complaint on his face. The older master also lowered his head and ate fiercely.

Li Xiandong breathed a sigh of relief. He passed this level.

After finishing the meal, Wang and Li Xiaohan packed up the dishes and lit a handful of mugwort to scare away the mosquitoes. Li Xiandong stayed at the homestead and watched while Wang and Li Xiaohan returned to the old house.

The old house had just finished dinner, and when Li Xiaohan stepped into the house, the whole family was enjoying the cool weather in front of the hall.

Seeing Li Xiaohan's mother and daughter come back, Mrs. Chen took the lead to look at them, with unconcealed ridicule and curiosity in her eyes - when Mrs. Chen went out today, she locked the kitchen to prevent what happened last time.

Waiting here now is just watching the jokes between Li Xiaohan and Wang.

It's a pity that Li Xiaohan didn't satisfy her and only smiled slightly, "Grandpa, grandma, we have been busy for a day and we are tired. Let's go wash up and go to sleep."

"Well, go ahead." Li Shengli said dullly, as long as he didn't come to him, anything would work.

It only made Chen hold his breath so hard that he couldn't spit it out or swallow it.

=== Chapter === 13

A few days later, it was market day. For example, the Pingshan Village Double Day Market has a good location and is one of the largest villages and towns nearby. The market is also extremely lively. Home-made needles, threads, brains, various pickles, and low tables and stools are all sold at the market. Of course, they are all things from farmers. They are definitely not as sophisticated and complete as those in the city, but they are more convenient and cheap.

Li Xiaohan looked around, fresh and curious, looking for what he needed.

"Mom, the pork is over here." Li Xiaohan pulled Wang towards the pork stall. In fact, it was just a fan of pork on a few banana leaves. The market's consumption capacity was only this, and there was no way to sell more.

"Uncle, do you still have pork suet? How much does it cost per pound?" Li Xiaohan asked the price neatly.

"You're late, the pork suet is sold out. If the pork belly is fat enough, it costs fifteen cents a pound." The big man selling pork replied, the pork suet is a good thing, and it was sold out early.

"Mom, how about it?" Li Xiaohan specifically asked Mrs. Wang for her opinion.

"Come on... take two kilograms." Wang responded and began to calculate in her mind how much two kilograms of pork belly would cost.

"Here are two kilograms of pork belly. Hey, uncle, how much do these bones cost per kilogram?" Li Xiaohan asked, staring at the bare bones with no meat left.

"Hey, this bone is three cents a pound. If you take two bones, I'll give you five cents a pound." The bones had no meat, were heavy, and were very unpopular, so the big man sold them at a low price.

"Mom." Li Xiaohan tugged at the hem of Wang's clothes. Wang nodded, and Li Xiaohan said briskly, "Here are two bones."

The big pork man cut two kilograms of pork belly neatly, and then used straw to skewer two bones. "A total of thirty-seven yuan."

Li Xiaohan frowned, "Help me cut off the bones."

How can the bone marrow come out if the tube bone is cut continuously? Its essence is in the bone marrow!

In his previous life, Li Xiaohan traveled to Guangdong Province, and the people there especially liked Tonggu Soup. Even Li Xiaohan himself can't stop his love for Tonggu soup no matter how fat and purine he is.

The layer of oily and soft bone marrow is sucked out in one sip. With a slight sip on the tip of the tongue, it slides easily across the throat, leaving people with endless aftertaste.

It's fragrant, soft and smooth, especially suitable for storing some fat during autumn and winter.

"Cut it off?" the butcher asked hesitantly.

"Yes, only by cutting it can the bone marrow be sucked out."

Li Xiaohan's expression was so calm that the butcher almost thought he was wrong.

Although he was a bit dissatisfied with Li Xiaohan's troubles, the big man hesitated and raised his knife to cut off the tube bone.

Woohoo, as expected, his beloved butcher knife had a curled blade. I have to go back and grind hard today.

Li Xiaohan knew nothing about the big man's pain. After buying the pork happily, he saw a fish stall in front of him.

Li Xiaohan ran straight over, but ignored the fat and big longevity fish, eel and bream. He pointed at a pile of small miscellaneous fish and asked, "Uncle the fish seller, how much does this fish cost?"

The old fish seller looked at Li Xiaohan strangely. Shouldn't he buy a big fish? "If you want all these trash fish, it will cost you seven cents."

Li Xiaohan looked at the pile of miscellaneous fish, which weighed about three kilograms, and felt that it was not expensive. He took Wang's hand and said, "Mom, buy it."

When Wang saw that Li Xiaohan wanted it, she naturally wouldn't object and paid for it.

I bought meat and fish, and saw an aunt selling pickled vegetables at very cheap prices. Li Xiaohan bought two more handfuls.

There was meat and fish, and there was no shortage of sugar, salt, sauce, and vinegar at home. Wang and Li Xiaohan went home with a full load.

When she got home, Mrs. Wang washed the bones and put them directly into the pot.

"Mom, wait a minute, put in the ginger, I like ginger."

Li Xiaohan knew that it was impossible to persuade Mrs. Wang to boil the bones in hot water once to remove the smell - they had already produced oil, so how could they throw them away, so he encouraged his mother to add more ginger to remove the smell of meat.

Naturally, Mrs. Wang has no problem doing anything, but she just wants to eat some ginger. She grows it herself in the mountains at home, so she can eat as much as she wants.

The bones were boiled in an earthen pot, while Wang and Li Xiaohan dealt with the pile of small fish. The small fish is about the size of two fingers. It takes a lot of effort to clean out all the internal organs, but in the end there may only be a few ounces of meat, so it is very cheap.

"Mom, don't we have to take out the fat and fry it in lard? How about frying the small fish and the remaining fat and thin meat? Fried meat spoils more slowly." Li Xiaohan slowly explained .

Mrs. Wang gained confidence from cooking wild vegetables yesterday. After thinking about it, she nodded and said, "Okay, let's fry it."

At noon of this day, Li Xiandong and others spent their time surrounded by the aroma of frying. It took a lot of effort to work, but the aroma made people feel hungry, wishing they could eat a cow.

Finally, by noon, everyone gathered around without even having to say hello.

The main dish is a small fish that is fried until the bones are crispy. There is no need to spit out the bones at all. The whole fish is chewy and chewy. It is salty, fragrant, crispy and crispy. Everyone can't stop eating it.

Everyone's eyes lit up after eating. Normally, except for the poor guy who couldn't open the pot, no one had ever seen this small fish: except for the bones and spines, there was not much meat. It took a lot of effort to open the belly and scrape the fish scales. At that time, it would be bad to do something.

Now it seems that it is not that the small fish is not delicious, but that it is not cooked well at home. What they make is delicious.

After frying the fish and meat in the pan, the oil is returned to the tank, and the bottom of the pan is just right for frying the courgettes. First add two cloves of wild garlic and stir-fry until fragrant, then add courgette slices and stir-fry over high heat. The fried courgette will be tender and sweet, and you will feel refreshed when you eat it.

At the end of the meal, even the vegetable soup was used to dip the cooking cakes.

This lunch was so delicious and solid that even the usually steady bricklayer and master gave it a thumbs up.

This owner is so kind.

=== Chapter === 14

After eating well, the master was satisfied and had time to give Li Xiandong a few words of advice, "Master, after the capstones of your house are installed tomorrow, the main foundation will be completed. Next, what do you plan to do with the wall construction? all?"

When poor people build a house, it is not a big deal to make some clay bricks yourself, but such a house is not stable and cannot withstand strong winds and rains, and it breaks down quickly.

People who are a little more particular, like Li Xiandong, hire a specialized house builder to help them with the work. Especially when the steps of laying the platform foundation and placing the capstone are completed, it can be achieved that "the house will not collapse if it collapses".

But such skilled masters are hard to find, and most people won't be able to tell if they don't put their best efforts into it.

Therefore, if the master can say this, at least he will do his best and not hide it.

"How to fix it?"

Li Xiandong rubbed his head, a little confused, but he still said what he meant, "As you can see, I plan to build four main rooms first, and two wing rooms in the east and west. The second room will not be used for the time being."

Seeing the way Li Xiandong was scratching his head, the old chef knew that Li Xiandong had no idea. Thinking of Li Xiandong's dedicated meals, he said, "Invite me over and I will explain it to you in detail."

"I see that the stones you bought are all good stones, and I know that you have invested money to build a good house that can be passed down to future generations. In this case, I will give you a few suggestions, all for building houses in the city. It's a practical style, think carefully about whether you want to use it or not."

As soon as the old master said this, the men from the Li family who were squatting on the ground quietly gathered around. The old master had built many houses, so the suggestions he gave must be good suggestions.

Li Xiaohan, who followed Wang to clear the dishes, also relaxed his hands and feet and raised his ears. Whether this house is comfortable or not is related to the happiness of the rest of life, and Li Xiaohan is also very concerned about it.

The old master knew that everyone was secretly eavesdropping, but this was also part of his purpose. He smacked his lips and continued,

"First, whether to build a fire wall or a fire kang. When the fire wall burns, the whole house will be warm. A house with a fire wall is much more comfortable to live in. Of course, a fire wall must be more expensive than a fire kang, and it also consumes firewood. But I'm thinking that your family can build two firewalls in the main house first, which will probably cost a small fortune. In the future, when the family has a new child, they will have to live with you for a few years after the baby comes out. You can also expand it after a few years. Already No two children, no more than seven or five children."

Li Xiandong knew that the master said to build two rooms first because his family had a small population, but the master said it nicely and said that he would add children in the future, which made Li Xiandong feel comfortable.

"Okay." Li Xiandong nodded.

"Master, don't make a decision in a hurry. Building a house is a big deal. You can think about it at night and I will continue to tell you."

The old master listened with a very calm tone, "Second, do you want to add a corridor between each house? This corridor is the corridor that connects the houses together. There are tiles on the corridor, so that no matter it rains or On a snowy day, you can all walk around in this house. All the big families in the city do this, and it just costs a few extra dollars for wood and tiles."

Li Xiaohan thought of the corridors he saw when visiting Suzhou gardens in his previous life. They were really convenient. At least when it rained, he no longer had to wear a raincoat when running from one house to another. If there was anything that needed to be dried on weekdays, there was no one at home. It can also be placed in the cloister.

"Third, your main room, do you want me to paint it with Sanhe soil cement? This mud floor is muddy when you step on it, and it will easily become bumpy after being used for a long time. The city is paved with blue bricks. You Pave it with mud, which is the triple clay cement we use when laying bricks. It's relatively cheap, neat and bright."

"Okay, that's it. Boss, please think about how you want to deal with it. Let us know when you think about it."

"Hey, hey, I understand, master, let me think about it seriously." Li Xiandong was very moved by these three suggestions, but they were all over the budget.

Li Xiaohan was also very moved, especially when her master said that the main room should be paved with mud, and she wanted to pave it in the toilet in the southwest corner as well. She was fed up with this ancient yellow mud and dug a hole to use as a toilet.

Moreover, this master's Sanhe soil cement is waterproof. Can she ask her father to build a bathroom? Use a wooden basin filled with water to wipe. In fact, it really can't be wiped clean. If you don't have running water in the shower, it's fine. You can take a happy bath with bottled water.

But how can she convince her father to agree.

Moreover, her family's money must be reserved for Wang's medicine. Is the remaining money enough?

From his previous life experience, Li Xiaohan knew that the budget for buying a house and decorating it would never stop the car, but he was really excited.

Make money, make money, how to make money?

Suddenly I felt that I had to go up the mountain and see if there was any Panax notoginseng.

Speaking of the old master's advice, in fact, not only Li Xiandong's family, but other Li family men were also thinking that this master's advice was good.

If I build my own house, can I do the same?

Is this effect really that good?

I hope Brother Xiandong/Uncle Xiandong will build it like this and see the effect when the time comes.

Today's afternoon, everyone has their own thoughts and is restless.

Li Xiaohan was cooking lunch for the afternoon with Mrs. Wang, and was still thinking about how to make money.

Wang originally prepared fried loofah for dinner, but after thinking about it, she added an egg. According to Li Xiaohan's instructions, add water to the eggs and stir well before frying. The fried eggs will be tender and tender and have a lot more weight.

The dish in the evening was oily bone soup that had been boiled for a day, and the bone marrow was boiled out. The side dish was loofah and scrambled eggs.

"It turns out that the soup made after splitting the bones is so delicious." Everyone who was eating was silently calculating in their hearts that they would eat like this in the future.

Cheap and delicious.

The price of the bones will increase after you bring them with you. Of course, this will happen in the future.

After dinner, everyone dispersed, and Li Xiandong found an opportunity to say to Wang, "Have I prepared all the suggestions that the master gave today?"

Mrs. Wang had no objection. Anyway, she would do whatever Li Xiandong said. But Li Xiaohan asked, "Dad, do we still have enough money?"

"I have to set aside the money for your mother to see the doctor. This cannot be touched." Li Xiandong sighed and said, "But I think it will be troublesome to modify this house in the future. Let's build it in one go. The tables, bedding and other large items can be left alone first." Replacement is easy, and you can slowly add more in the future, so you can save money."

Oh, I just want to live in a rough house first and slowly decorate it later. Li Xiaohan can understand.

"Dad, the bathroom next to the toilet in our house is also built with a layer of Sanhe soil cement. I want to take a bath."

Originally, the toilet was intolerable, but after enduring it for so many years, it turns out that humans are creatures of habit.

However, we are building a house recently, and there is a layer of dirt and a layer of dust. It is really hard not to take a shower.

Li Xiandong thought that he would take a bath in the river under the moonlight, while his wife and daughter could only use water to clean up at home. That small house is not big to begin with, and it is not very expensive to build it with clay and cement.

Li Xiandong, who had always been taught that money should be spent on appearance, thought about it and nodded in agreement, "Okay."

"Dad, you are so kind." Li Xiaohan cheered.

However, before the house is built, we still cannot give up on raising money to build a toilet.

"Also, although today's food is a little expensive because it consumes oil, it is still worth it. You can follow this standard in the future."

Li Xiandong was afraid that Mr. Wang would save money on food when he saw that the family was short of money. Today, the old chef obviously made the suggestion because he was eating well. But if he could not save in this regard, it would be bad, so he warned him.

"Sure, dad, we get it." Li Xiaohan responded loudly. Today's food tasted delicious, but it didn't cost much.

=== Chapter === 15

Wang was tossing and turning late at night.

The family had no money, but her husband still kept the money for his own medical treatment and refused to use it. Ms. Wang was deeply moved.

It was precisely because of being so moved that Wang was very anxious.

Life now is like a dream coming true: the family is separated. Although the money is very small, her mother-in-law has pointed out that her family has made a fortune. Seeing that hope is ahead, Mrs. Wang wants to carefully protect her. With this dream.

But how to make money.

Wang racked her brains and finally came up with an idea.

She could leave the cooking work to Li Xiaohan and then go up the mountain to find Sanqi herself.

The more Wang thought about it, the more she thought it was a good idea. In the past few days, Wang had discovered that Li Xiaohan was very talented on the stove and knew how to think things over.

As her daughter said, it was as if her brain had been enlightened in front of her grandmother's grave. She believed that Li Xiaohan could do this job well.

Moreover, Li Xiaohan is also thirteen years old, not far away from turning fifteen and getting hairpins. At this time, it is beneficial to try to spread your good reputation and meet others after you have your hair.

Getting married is like a woman's second reincarnation. Even though her life was miserable, Wang felt that her reincarnation was not too bad. There are many women in this world who are suffering more than her.

Therefore, as a mother, Wang has to make plans for her daughter.

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it became. Wang was so excited that she almost couldn't sleep, and fell asleep in the middle of the night.

In the early morning, Li Xiaohan looked at the dark circles under Wang's eyes and thought that her mother might not have slept well.

After Wang told Li Xiaohan his plan, Li Xiaohan had no objection.

Although in the previous life, a thirteen-year-old was still a proper child laborer, in this life, a thirteen-year-old can already work as a half-laborer. There are quite a few people in the village who are in their early teens doing housework.

Perhaps because they were the only children, Li Xiandong and Wang actually doted on Li Xiaohan. Although they worked all day long, they did not let Li Xiaohan do the heavy work.

Now, Wang has gained initial confidence in her skills on the stove, and it is rare for her to have her own ideas. Li Xiaohan nodded heavily: "Mom, leave it to me, I can do it."

"But, Mom, you went up the mountain, and you just happened to water some Panax notoginseng seeds on the way. A humid environment and sufficient water are more conducive to the germination of Panax notoginseng."

"Okay." Wang didn't understand a humid environment or sufficient water. However, the principle of farming is the same. Once the seeds are planted, the more delicate ones need to be watered and fertilized frequently.

Panax notoginseng is so valuable and so delicate that no one can treat her too well.

Li Xiandong listened to Wang's arrangement and Li Xiaohan's guarantee. Wang's face was full of desire to make money, while Li Xiaohan's face was eager to show off his skills.

Thinking about it, Li Xiaohan was thirteen, and it was time to learn Kung Fu on the stove. Li Xiandong nodded.

The worst thing is, if the cooking is bad, just call Mrs. Wang back.

After Wang finished explaining, he picked up his burden and went up the mountain. She didn't dare to go far and had to come back at noon to take a look.

After Wang entered the mountain, Li Xiaohan got busy. She helped the Wang family every day, and with the foundation accumulated in her previous life, she was full of confidence and thought she would not be too bad.

In fact, Li Xiaohan started off very smoothly, picking vegetables, washing rice, and cooking pots. Although it was a little slow, it seemed to be in order.

Li Xiandong, who was working on the side, accidentally looked over and saw that Li Xiaohan was not in a hurry at all and looked exactly like Mr. Wang, and he felt very satisfied.

Sure enough, his daughter is smart and specializes in the strengths of their family.

Other people working did not see Wang today, but saw Li Xiaohan busy at work. Although they were a little surprised, they did not find it strange.

Farmers don't say they are pampered. It is not unusual for a girl of this age to be on the stove.

Among them, they are as smart as Li Xinhe, as mature as Li Guiqian, and as well-informed as the old master. When he thinks about it, he understands: Li Xiandong must have been moved by the suggestions given by the old master yesterday. However, it was estimated that the family did not have enough money, so they asked Li Xiaohan to take over, and Wang tried to work to earn money.

Everyone who wanted to understand felt that this was a good idea. Wang's ability seems to be at least half a man.

Li Xiaohan first thought that he could definitely do it, then he felt that he should be able to do it, and finally he felt that he was almost able to do it.

But, in fact, she is a little bit unable to do so now.

Her rice was a little burnt...

At this time, you are burning firewood to cook rice. It is not a smart rice cooker like in the previous life. Just select the function, press the start button, and then wait for the meal.

Li Xiaohan's fire burned a little faster, and the water evaporated a little faster. By the time she found out, it was already too late to pull out the firewood, and a layer of rice cake was burned at the bottom of the pot.

Li Xiaohan stared at the layer of rice cakes in a daze. She found out early that the rice cakes were brown and still edible. Maybe some people are okay with this.

However, this rice cake was just a slap in the face of Li Xiaohan, who had vowed that it was okay in the morning.

With a dull face, she used a spatula to scoop up the rice with great force.

There is no other way, the menu for morning and evening needs to be changed today.

Li Xiandong and others could already smell the burning smell of rice, but looking at Li Xiaohan's 13-year-old body, with a straight face as he shoveled the rice with a spatula, he shoveled out with unstoppable momentum.

This group of grown men suddenly became silent.

Forget it, forget it, little girl, it's your first time cooking, so that's pretty good. It doesn't taste too burnt either, it's just edible, so there's nothing to be picky about.

After Li Xiaohan shoveled the rice, he poured a ladle of water into it while it was still hot and washed the pot clean.

Then, drain the water in the pot, add a small spoonful of lard, and after the oil boils, add wild onions and wild garlic, stir-fry until fragrant, then add chopped old sauerkraut bought in the pot, stir-fry, and a burst of sour fragrance will overflow.

After the sauerkraut is fragrant, add the fried small fish that was fried yesterday, and then add water.

To be cautious - the dishes should not be overcooked, otherwise Li Xiaohan would feel that there was nowhere to put his face, so Li Xiaohan always used low heat to stir-fry until fragrant, but after adding water, he could bring it to a boil over high heat.

As the fire boils, the aroma of the fish and the sourness of the pickled cabbage gradually mix together and merge to form a more intense aroma that hits the tip of one's nose.

The man working made a move, and the rice was burnt, but the dish was so fragrant.

At this time, Wang also came back.

Li Xiaohan's food is almost ready.

"Mom, go wash your face." Li Xiaohan said as he looked at Wang, whose face was covered with sweat, her hair was messy, and her body was still stained with dirt and dead leaves.

Mrs. Wang paused, then looked at her sweaty daughter, with a smile on her face, "When you finish cooking, you can also wash up."

"Hey." Li Xiaohan wiped his face and replied.

Cooking in an earthen stove is really not an easy job.

When the fried fish cooked with old pickled cabbage was delicious and the soup and ingredients were put on the plate, Li Xiaohan made another stir-fried green vegetable.

When the dishes were served, everyone tried not to let their eyes fall on the bowl of crispy rice. Sometimes, the woman who cooks is the biggest.

On the contrary, it was Li Xiaohan who said to Li Xiandong with a serious face, "Dad, this is how you eat this rice cake."

As he said that, he picked up a piece of rice cake with chopsticks, and then pressed it into the braised fish with pickled cabbage. The hard rice cake absorbed the thick soup and gradually became soft.

Li Xiaohan put the rice cake into his father's bowl and said, "Dad, you try it."

Li Xiandong...Li Xiandong didn't dare to resist, so he picked up the pot and put it in his mouth.

The sourness of sauerkraut is in your mouth, and then the aroma of fish. When you chew it, the sizzling aroma of rice comes out.

"It's delicious." Li Xiandong nodded and praised. It's not his fault, it's really delicious.

Li Xiaohan smiled slightly and retreated.

Seeing that Li Xiandong's expression didn't seem to be fake, and the food was really delicious, everyone imitated Li Xiaohan, dipping the rice cakes into the soup and eating first.

"This rice cake is chewy, flavorful and filling."

At that time, in order to use the least amount of rice to cook the most rice, people put in a lot of water. When the rice was cooked, it was soft and rotten, and the aroma of the rice was also dispersed.

This crispy rice has a completely different feeling, firm, crispy and fragrant. The portraits opened up a new side of the world.

"This small fish is not bad. Yesterday it was crispy, but today it is soft and rotten. It is served with sauerkraut. The more I eat it, the more I want to eat it."

"This stir-fried greens is also good. The garlic is fragrant and the greens are fragrant."

"Why don't you say you are shiny and shiny, and everything you eat is good."

"Hahaha."

Everyone laughed.

"Sister Xiaohan's skills can be put on the stage." As the next successor to the clan leader, Li Xinhe can speak to people's hearts when he wants to say something nice.

Sure enough, Li Xiandong said modestly, "She is still young after all, and she still has plenty to learn."

There was a look of pride on his face, "Come, eat food, eat food."

=== Chapter === 16

With the experience gained at noon, Li Xiaohan performed very steadily at dinner.

Cook the rice over low heat and steam the meat over the rice.

Cut the fried pork belly into thin slices, not too much, take one piece per person, mix with the sauce, and steam it on rice until the skin is soft and rotten. The fat layer will become rotten when you sip it, while the lean meat will become more and more fragrant the more you chew it. Not firewood.

This pure meat, needless to say, conquered everyone just because of its fatness and tenderness.

As for the rice that is steamed together, the aroma of steamed meat emitted by the high temperature is tightly locked in the rice by the pot lid.

Xiaohan's sister/Xiaohan's niece/owner's daughter... the cooking is quite delicious.

This was the unanimous consensus of everyone that night.

If Li Xiaohan knew what everyone was thinking, he would probably wave his hand: It's not my fault, it's all the meat's.

After a busy day, Li Xiaohan almost felt that he had finished a major exam. It was getting dark, and all the people who came to help dispersed, leaving only the three members of the Li family packing their things.

But, "Dad, what are you doing?"

Li Xiaohan's voice was full of erraticness, disbelief, and shock...

Li Xiandong was startled by his daughter's sudden voice. The hatchet was bent and fell straight to the ground.

"I was shocked." Li Xiandong picked up the woodcutter and said, "I see that you have almost burned out the firewood in the afternoon. Before it gets dark, I will chop some for you to use tomorrow. What's wrong?"

Li Xiaohan felt his heart beating like a drum, his hands trembled slightly, and he squatted down calmly, picked up the branch split by Li Xiandong, grabbed the bark and pulled and folded it hard.

Sure enough, the broken bark was connected to a layer of thin and dense filaments like a net, just like the silk spun by spring silkworms.

Li Xiaohan swallowed hard and said in a normal voice, "Dad, why have we never seen this kind of firewood burned in our house before?"

"Oh, this is called a fake silkworm tree. Look, the silk made from the bark looks like silk. But this silk cannot be woven, so it's called a fake silkworm tree. This tree is useless, but it's easy to burn. "

While Li Xiandong kept chopping firewood, he explained to Li Xiaohan, "Smell carefully, this tree has a special aroma. Some people like to use this wood to smoke bacon in winter."

"Dad, how come our family has never used this kind of tree to smoke bacon." Smoking bacon is a big event every year. Li Xiaohan searched the depths of his memory and found that he had never had the impression of this kind of tree.

"Oh, your step-grandmother doesn't like this kind of smell, so we use pine trees to smoke bacon. We don't have such trees growing in our woodland."

Li Xiaohan was anxious, "Dad, how did you get the firewood this time?"

How can you not grow it at home? You must have it!

"You have to ask your mother about this. This is the firewood your mother dragged back this afternoon."

Mrs. Wang was skewering the fresh mushrooms she picked up today. Although she didn't find Panax notoginseng today, she found a few clusters of fresh mushrooms, which are good as a dish.

Hearing the conversation between the two fathers and daughters, Wang turned back and said, "Next to the common land of the clan, I went to a new place today. There are quite a lot of wood in that forest land."

Hearing this, Li Xiandong frowned and thought for a while, "Let me think about it, it seems that the land used to belong to landlord Zhang's family. It is said that when they were fleeing, Mrs. Zhang climbed up this fake silkworm tree to escape the bandits. Later, she escaped from the bandits. After we settled down, Mrs. Zhang planted this kind of tree in our place. It was also Mrs. Zhang who started the trend of using fake silkworm trees to smoke bacon. Unfortunately, Landlord Zhang's son failed to live up to his expectations and sold a lot of his family property. When the family was separated last time, I heard the clan leader mention that as there were more and more people in the clan, we needed to buy more forest land."

Li Xiaohan was overjoyed and took a deep breath into the bark of the tree. It smelled really good. "Dad, where can we find this kind of tree? Let's move it to our woodland and plant it. I like this smell. We also use this to smoke bacon in winter."

Li Xiandong suddenly fell silent. His stepmother Chen didn't like this aroma, but he vaguely remembered that his mother liked this kind of tree to smoke bacon.

His father's forest land used to have some trees planted there, but then there were no trees left.

Together with it, there is no woodland for the three brothers.

Out of an unknown mentality, perhaps a belated rebellion and resistance, Li Xiandong decided, "Okay, let's transplant a little and use this to smoke the bacon. But first, after our family finishes building the house, now No time."

Yes, I am not free at home now.

Li Xiaohan was stunned and frowned.

My family's population is too small, and we still need to build houses, so I can't do anything to overtake others.

Li Xiaohan paused, then took another miscellaneous tree and gave it to her father to chop, "Dad, chop this one."

Li Xiandong has no opinion on whether to chop firewood or not.

"Mom, I like this...this fake silkworm tree. Next time I see you, pay attention. When dad is free, we can chop it down."

"Okay." Mr. Wang was devoted to her husband and daughter. When her daughter liked it, her husband agreed. It was just a change of tree-smoked bacon. The opinions of her husband and daughter were his.

As the night progressed, the Li family of three finished cleaning up, and Li Xiaohan followed the Wang family back to their old house.

"Mom, is the new forest far away?"

"It's not far. If it were far, I wouldn't go there to collect firewood."

"Mom, I'll go take a look with you early tomorrow morning."

"What are you going to see? Can't there be no one at home to cook?"

Li Xiaohan paused and said, "I think the bunches of fresh mushrooms you have today are quite good. Why don't we go pick some together? It will also be a meal."

"Okay, then you go out with me early in the morning, but you have to come back in time to cook."

"Why."

Early the next morning, after eating simple grain pancakes, Li Xiaohan and his daughter went out. Not to mention it is an ordinary multigrain pancake, but with enough oil and the fresh mushrooms Wang brought back yesterday, it is three points better than ordinary multigrain pancakes.

Walking all the way up the mountain, we soon arrived at the woodland that Wang mentioned yesterday.

Landlord Zhang's son really doesn't take care of the family. In the forest land of ordinary people, there are neatly planted pine trees and camphor trees that can be used for furniture, persimmon trees and pear trees that can make fruit. Only the land of Landlord Zhang's house is full of weeds. The trees are thick and vigorous, growing and entangled together, making it difficult to walk.

But there are advantages. Landlord Zhang's son does not run the household, and there are many wild animals in the forest. After a while, Li Xiaohan picked up several clusters of fresh mushrooms, wild fungus, and even found a nest of wild eggs, although there were only 3 , but it can also be used as a meal.

The two went up the mountain together, but Wang refused to let Li Xiaohan go into some places where weeds were lush, lest the branches and leaves would scratch his face.

"Mom, I saw a bunch of fresh mushrooms over there. I went over to pick them."

"Hey, be careful, don't go too far." Wang said.

After a while, Mrs. Wang saw Li Xiaohan come back and saw a piece of fake silkworm bark in Li Xiaohan's basket on his back. It was neatly arranged in a square shape. She thought that Li Xiaohan was just curious, so she just asked casually: "Why do you just Cut a piece of bark, it's not easy to burn. You need dead branches to make it easier to burn, and you need branches and leaves for bacon."

"Hey, Mom, I know, I'm just curious."

The two mother and daughter said something casually and the matter was over.

On that day, everyone who was building a house in Li Xian's house had rice braised with fresh mushrooms and oil residue for lunch. Fresh mushrooms were mixed with oil residue and stir-fried until fragrant, and then rice and water were added. The stewed rice was fresh, fragrant and filling.

The wild egg, shepherd's purse, and fresh mushroom soup we had in the evening, with tender yellow eggs, green shepherd's purse, and floating fresh mushroom slices, was different from the rich and fragrant meal at noon. This soup at night was fragrant and refreshing, and everyone was full of praise.

"Xiaohan's niece is really good at cooking. She looks like a younger brother and sister." Li Guiqian praised while eating.

In fact, Li Xiaohan's cooking skills are better than Wang's, because Li Xiaohan is more willing to use oil and sugar, and Wang's is not as liberal as Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiandong's face was tanned and his teeth were white when he smiled, "Brother Guiqian, don't talk about her like that. She is too young to be worthy."

"There's nothing you can't do. If you're good at it, you can do it."

Li Xiaohan, who was at the center of the topic, didn't care about what Li Xiandong and the others were talking about. She looked at the house that their family had just started building, at her biological father who couldn't hold back anything after being praised by others, and then at the house placed in the corner. False silkworm bark.

Forget it, wait until the house is built.

=== Chapter === 17

On this day, the Wang family went up the mountain early in the morning, and Li Xiaohan was planning what to eat today: today there is only shepherd's purse fried with lard residue, but if there is enough, the builders will be very satisfied.

However, good food can soothe life, so why should we make do with it and be lazy about it?

It happened to rain yesterday. Now that it is sunny, the fungus in the fields should be growing well, so I will pick some fungus and bring them back. They are tender and smooth, and they are also a good dish.

Thinking of this, Li Xiaohan picked up the bamboo basket and shouted to Li Xiandong who was busy in the homestead: "Dad, I'm going to pick some wild vegetables in the field."

"Hey." Li Xiandong responded without raising his head. Now he was very relieved about his daughter.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Li Xiaohan walked out of the house, he saw Mrs. Wang running back in a hurry.

Li Xiaohan frowned, fearing that something had happened, and hurriedly rushed to greet her: "Mom, what's wrong? Why are you running back in such a hurry?"

"Xiaohan! Xiaohan!" Wang was panting, then looked left and right again, and lowered her voice and said: "That Panax notoginseng, that Panax notoginseng seems to have sprouted."

"Really, mother, take me to see it quickly." Li Xiaohan collapsed the basket, took Wang's hand and strode forward.

After a while, the two came to Li Xiandong's woodland.

Yesterday's rain made the withered grass under the tree still feel moist. Maybe it was this rain that caused a trembling little seedling to grow under the withered grass, tender and thin. It makes people happy to see it.

Li Xiaohan carefully pulled away some dead grass and took a closer look at what was growing underneath. "Mom, yes, this is the Panax notoginseng seedling."

"Really? Right!" The smile on Wang's face gradually spread, "There are some here, and there are also some under the tree over there."

Li Xiaohan inspected them carefully and said, "Well, they all look good. Mom, take good care of them and water them more during this period. After three years, they will grow and we will be rich."

"Hey." Mrs. Wang nodded loudly. Thinking of the price of Panax notoginseng sold at that time, she almost regarded these Panax notoginseng seedlings as treasures.

Because of the germination of Panax notoginseng seedlings, Li Xiaohan felt a little better. When cooking the fungus, he slipped two eggs into it. Fragrant and tender!

In the evening, after dinner, Li Xiandong looked at Li Xiaohan who was clearing the dishes with a smile, and asked Wang in confusion: "What happened today? Why are you and Xiaohan so happy?"

Wang held a bundle of firewood. Hearing this, he turned around and took a closer look to make sure there was no one around. Fang smiled softly and said, "It was hard to tell you because there were so many people before. That Panax notoginseng has sprouted."

"Really?" Li Xiandong's already big eyes were even more wide-open at this moment, and his dark face was literally glowing.

"It's true." Wang smiled and nodded, "I took Xiaohan to see it this morning."

After receiving the affirmation, Li Xiandong was so happy that he kept rubbing his hands and turned around a few times, "I have to go and have a look. I have to go and have a look to feel at ease."

"But, you are building a house now and you can't leave. What will you do if others ask you if you leave?"

Li Xiandong was stunned for a moment and couldn't think of a good solution. After a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go back when it rains next time and we can't build a house."

"OK."

Li Xiaohan could certainly understand her father's anxiety, but he could only help her father pray for rain soon. Fortunately, God still loves fools. A few days later, it rained heavily again, and Li Xiandong finally saw the Panax notoginseng seedlings he had longed for. .

The days passed quickly, and the Panax notoginseng sprouted one after another. I saw that it grew very fast, growing taller little by little, and slowly grew one, two, or three small leaves.

And everyone in the village also saw Li Xiandong's family renovating their house, saw Li Xiandong's family digging the foundation, saw Li Xiandong's family building a wall, saw Li Xiandong's family laying bricks and tiles...

Before you knew it, more than half a month had passed, and Li Xiandong's house was completed.

Li Xiaohan looked at this new house, with blue bricks and gray tiles, a courtyard in the middle, the main door facing the main room, four main rooms and four wing rooms, very spacious and bright.

Of course, it is incomparable to the high-rise single-family villas in his previous life. There are no home appliances and decorations. Now it is almost a semi-finished house. But the more Li Xiaohan looks at it, the more he likes it, and the more he looks at it, the more he feels at ease.

"Mom and dad, look at our new house. No one can separate us anymore."

Sure enough, Li Xiandong and Wang's faces were also full of joy and longing.

A new house seems to be more than just a house, but a new beginning of life.

Even if most of the money is spent on building this house, money will still be needed in the future for various additions.

However, they no longer feel uneasy every moment, nor will they experience the hopeless panic again.

Li Xiandong believes that he will live a good life with his own hands.

It was rare that Li Xiandong said with confidence, "Dad will help you live a good life."

"Well, Dad, you will definitely do it."

Li Xiaohan nodded and said.

She didn't want to sleep on a straw kang, she didn't want to have the same bed and quilt for more than ten years, and she didn't want to sleep in an empty room. She wanted to live in a comfortable new house, with new quilts, new clothes, and a suitcase, desk, and Stool... The rough house is built and ready to be decorated.

"Dad, last time I said that I liked the aroma of this fake silkworm tree and asked you to go find this kind of tree in the wild to make bed boards. You haven't forgotten it, right?"

"Remember. You asked me to search in the wild, and the bigger the better, right? Remember, your mother has already found her, just a little far away. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, I will ask Brother Guiqian and Brother Deyou to find her, right? Jia Jin, Jia Yin, Xin and several nephews also cut down the trees and transported them home. The twigs that happened to be cut can be used as firewood during the two days when we joined the family."

People at that time generally liked fir trees and pine trees, and my daughter liked the smell of this fake silkworm tree, which was quite special.

Maybe she looks like her grandmother.

However, what kind of tree is not a tree? This one has a bit of fragrance and smells pretty good.

It takes a little effort, but it's nothing.

But before that, there was one more thing to do, Li Xiandong thought secretly.

After the house was built, it was natural to prepare the new residence for moving in and hosting a banquet.

First, I went to the old fish seller and made a reservation for the fish. It was rare for the old man to have a big business, so naturally he was willing to do anything.

After ordering the fish, Li Xiaohan took Mrs. Wang to the butcher shop and ordered thirteen kilograms of pork belly, ten kilograms of suet, and ten kilograms of large bones.

The big meat seller only kills one pig every day, so naturally he doesn't have so many pork belly and suet bones. But he knew people in this industry, so he would naturally help put it together.

However, the meat seller still asked with hope, "Should we all cut them off?"

"Yes, cut it off." Li Xiaohan nodded without hesitation.

The big man selling meat nodded sadly, "Okay."

That's ten pounds of bones, and his butcher's knife was injured again.

This money is really hard to make!

Li Xiaohan has gradually come to appreciate it recently. In this era, steelmaking technology is still insufficient and the knife is not hard enough.

"How about you use a bone chopping knife?"

Li Xiaohan remembered that the pork stall knives in the wet market were divided into several types, including meat slicing knives, deboning knives, and boning knives.

Maybe, professional things should be done with professional swords?

The big man looked embarrassed. How should he hit this knife? Such a knife is not cheap, right?

Li Xiaohan saw this look and suggested, "If not, why don't you get the axe?"

I watched some short videos in my previous life. In the ice and snow, a strong man picked up an ax and chopped frozen bones. The sense of power and the strong male aura came to his face through the screen.

Sure enough, the big man's eyes lit up, the ax was powerful enough, and he didn't have to spend any extra money on it since he had it at home.

"Stay. I will handle it well for you."

After taking care of the most important fish and meat, Li Xiaohan was half relieved. He also had to prepare the tofu, dry goods, salt, sugar, sauce, and vinegar one by one.

Li Xiaohan and Wang prepared the meals, while Li Xiandong informed the clan members.

Moving into a new home is a big deal, and it is respectful to inform people at their doorstep, especially those with high moral standards in the clan. Li Xiandong has been busy with this matter these days, so he cannot leave it out, otherwise he will offend others.

You also have to go to the tribe's warehouse to borrow tables, stools, dishes and bowls, and make an appointment with the tribesmen you've made friends with to bring these big guys out.

…

The family was busy and joyful, just to welcome that day.

=== Chapter === 18

It was a banquet on September 25th, and on the morning of September 24th, Li Xiandong's family got up early and started busy.

Wang and Li Xiaohan have been washing and scrubbing since the morning. There are stools and tables in the family, and Li Xiandong has borrowed them, but they have not been used for a long time, so they need to be cleaned.

When it was almost midnight, Li Guiqian's daughter-in-law, Zhao, came over with her two daughters-in-law to help.

Ms. Zhao was puzzled about going to her sister-in-law's house next door to help. It's not that the Wang family doesn't have sisters-in-law, Li Xiandong has two brothers. Although they don't have the same mother, they have the same father.

Faced with Zhao's confusion, Li Guiqian explained like this, "Dad ordered it."

After thinking about it, Li Guiqian added, "The steamed meat and fried fish made by Xiandong are very delicious. I like them. You can bring your daughters-in-law to help and see if you can learn from them."

Mrs. Zhao was unconvinced. She was in charge of the family's food. The whole family had never said no, so what did it mean to suddenly say that someone else's food was good? Is what you do bad?

But Mrs. Zhao and Li Guiqian have been married for half their lives. Li Guiqian will not tell lies. If it is delicious, it is really delicious. So Zhao came with doubts and dissatisfaction.

Although she said she was dissatisfied and doubtful, Mrs. Zhao didn't show any signs of it on her face. She smiled when she arrived and said, "Brother and sister, I have heard that you are good at cooking. Our head of the family urged me to come to help early in the morning and learn from you."

Wang rarely interacted with people, so she was happy and a little disbelieving at the compliment from Zhao. She held up the water ladle and was speechless for a moment.

It was Li Xiaohan who said, "Auntie, my ex-uncle must have praised me. When we were building the house, my ex-uncle kept saying that aunt, you are good at baking pies, which made me greedy. Today is just the day, You have to communicate with my mother, I really want to have a taste."

Baking pies is indeed a craft that Zhao is proud of. The family spends their money carefully and uses the cheapest ingredients to make the most delicious pies. Zhao has a lot of knowledge.

Li Xiaohan only occasionally heard Li Guiqian and the others say something casually, but when he said it, it was as if Li Guiqian had really praised him in front of others. Mrs. Zhao smiled sincerely, "Xiaohan's niece's mouth felt like honey." Same, it looks like I'm going to grab a spatula today."

"I'm just looking forward to your aunt's help."

"Oh, sister-in-law Xiandong, I really like how generous and refreshing niece Xiaohan is."

Mrs. Zhao really looked up to Li Xiaohan. It wasn't Mr. Zhao who was the boss. She always felt that Mr. Wang and Li Xiandong were a little bit invincible, and they wouldn't say anything if they suffered a loss.

Unexpectedly, the two dull geese actually gave birth to Li Xiaohan's temperament that he would not suffer any disadvantages: Li Xiaohan said in his words that if he wanted to learn his own fried fish and steamed meat with sauce, he would have to trade the skills of making pies.

And what people say makes people happy. It's all about communication skills.

That's the reason. No matter how close she is to someone else, this woman's skills on the stove are her own reputation. How can she let others learn from her in vain?

Mrs. Zhao felt that Li Xiaohan's temperament was like hers. That is to say, Ms. Zhao has no daughter. If she had a daughter, Ms. Zhao felt that she should look like Li Xiaohan.

After this gag, the atmosphere between the few people became better and better, and Ms. Wang also relaxed: praising her daughter made herself happier than praising her.

Mrs. Zhao and her two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Ma and Han Shi, are both Shuangli people. The women, with their nimble hands and feet, first washed the dishes, dishes, tables and stools borrowed from the clan.

Then the fish and meat were delivered on time.

Thirteen pieces of lucky fish and more than 40 kilograms of small miscellaneous fish took a lot of effort to clean up. Li Xiaohan was heartbroken. Fortunately, his aunt brought someone here. Otherwise, their family of three would be really busy.

At noon, everyone just fidgeted for a while and stayed there until about lunch time in the afternoon.

The oil pan was burning, bright lard was refined, and a large plate was filled with lard residue.

The marinated pork belly is fried until golden in color and full of oily aroma.

Drain the water, add the small fish battered with salt, sugar and flour, and fry until crispy all over.

"Sister-in-law, please give it a try. This fish needs to be fried until the bones are crispy. The most important thing is to fry it twice." Wang picked up a bowl, filled it with a bowl of small fish, and asked Zhao's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to try it. taste.

For more than half a month, although I looked for Panax notoginseng, I couldn't find it anywhere near. As a woman, Wang didn't dare to go into the dense forest alone, so she simply came back to take charge of the stove.

If Mrs. Wang had to say it herself, she felt that her skills on the stove were still impressive.

When Mrs. Zhao saw Wang's method, she knew that the dish would be unpalatable - so much oil, salt, and sugar were put in, and it would not even taste good.

Sure enough, Mr. Zhao knew it as soon as he took it into his mouth. It was so fragrant and crispy. It was fried twice and the bones could be chewed.

"Brother and sister, your skills are amazing." Zhao said.

"You're exaggerating. It's just that children like to eat it. I'll think about it more." Wang laughed.

This fried fish was made by Wang based on Li Xiaohan's wild imagination. For example, at first Li Xiaohan said, Mom, fry it slowly so as not to burn it. Later, it developed into, Mom, fry it again and I will I don't think it's crispy enough.

Li Xiaohan, the theoretical guide, came up with it, but later on, it was Wang who could really control the heat and fry the fish until it was crispy but not burnt, fragrant and crispy.

Even Li Xiaohan couldn't fry as well as Wang, and Li Xiaohan couldn't control the wood stove well. This Wang family has cooked pig food for a long time and is very good at it.

When Li Xiaohan saw Mr. Wang and Mr. Zhao exchanging their tips on frying small fish, he quietly stepped away—it was so hot in this kitchen.

Moreover, her mother had no one she could talk to in the village, and the three Zhaos were the beginning of social interaction in her family.

Based on her understanding of your former uncle over the past few days, she felt that Zhao, as your former uncle's wife, was also a person worth dating.

Sure enough, after Li Xiaohan quit playing second fiddle, Wang and Zhao communicated more and more harmoniously.

For dinner, the staple food is Zhao's baked pie.

"Auntie, this pie of yours is really amazing. No wonder my ex-uncle never forgets it." Li Xiaohan praised while eating.

This pie is really good. It is obviously a coarse grain pie, but what is rare is that it is not as rough as a dead dough pie, but has layers of chewy, crispy and fragrant texture.

"This pie requires a lot of effort when kneading the dough. Once you make it a few times, it will be cooked." Mrs. Zhao said cheerfully. Today, she took her two daughters-in-law to learn how to fry small fish from Mr. Wang. Then the art of baking pies must be taught to Wang and Li Xiaohan.

"I'm not as good as you, auntie. I saw that you took a lot of effort to knead the dough. I don't have the same strength as you."

Li Xiaohan was telling the truth. In this era, women are really sparing things. In order to save on fillings and make it delicious, Mrs. Zhao forcibly kneaded the dough manually to give it the feeling of a thousand-layer cake.

Li Xiaohan himself really didn't have the strength and perseverance.

"Hahaha, I'll do it when you're a little older." Ms. Zhao laughed, but what she didn't say was that, especially after getting married and having a baby, her hands would be strong enough to hold the baby.

On this trip, Mrs. Zhao felt as if she had gotten to know Li Xiandong's family again. I had always heard that Li Xiaohan and his daughter were clumsy and could not even weave and could only cook pig food.

But now that I have contacted them, I can see that although Li Xiandong and Mr. Wang don't talk much, looking at the Li family's woodshed, the firewood is full of firewood, the water in the water tank is clean, and the kitchen is neat and orderly.

Not to mention the food skills, the wine-making skills are not good at all, which is very inconsistent with the rumors in the village.

Moreover, Ms. Zhao believes that Ms. Wang, who can calm down and fry cheap off-cell fish to taste delicious, and herself, who spares no effort to knead the pie into thin layers, are the same person.

With the deliberate promotion of both parties, Mrs. Zhao and Mrs. Wang were getting along very happily today. Before leaving, Mrs. Wang even took the initiative and filled a bowl of small fish for Zhao, "Sister-in-law, thank you for your hard work today. This little fish , take some back for the children to try. As you know, this little miscellaneous fish doesn't cost much. The most expensive thing is gas money, and the rest is just a lot of effort, so don't refuse."

Human efforts are worthless. This is the consensus of everyone in Pingshan Village.

"Okay, sister-in-law, if I don't want to shirk you anymore, we'll come back tomorrow morning." Mrs. Zhao said cheerfully.

There is a long distance between Li Xiandong's house and Li Guiqian's house. The nearest one is a small road in the back.

Normally, Mrs. Zhao and others would not take this path, but this time there were three of them, and they had not been at home all day. They didn't know how the men, children, pigs, and chickens at home were doing. It was really worrying to think about it. Yes, the three of them hurried back.

"Mom, let's go back and fry the fish too." As she was walking quietly with her head down, Zhao's eldest daughter-in-law, Ma, suddenly said, "Brother Dou must like it. I'm going to have no children in my second trimester."

Brother Dou'er, Mr. Ma's son, is four years old. He is tall and lanky and complains of hunger all day long. As a half-grown boy who lives in poverty, Ma, as a mother-in-law, naturally cares about her all the time.

"Okay." Mrs. Zhao responded readily.

We are all family members, so we have a certain balance in our hearts. This small fish is cheap and delicious. After being fried, it can be stored for several days without spoiling. They have a large family and can even catch fish themselves, saving money on buying fish, which is a good deal.

"Mom, Aunt Wang is very good at cooking. It's not like the rumors." The words started casually, Ma said.

"It's so easy to get ahead while living under the hands of your step-mother-in-law." Mrs. Zhao said that with such a good reputation, she was not allowed to give it to her own children. This is not my own daughter-in-law, so it is best to be the stepping stone. Zhao has already figured out the key.

"That's really true." Mrs. Zhao's two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Ma and Mrs. Han, nodded frequently. Although living under her mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhao, was a little tiring, no one's family was full of work. At least they didn't have to work hard to pay the bills. Get a bad reputation.

People's happiness comes from comparison. In comparison, Ma and Han felt that their mother-in-law was very good.

=== Chapter === 19

On the morning of the 25th, Mrs. Zhao came again early with her two daughters-in-law, and brought a basket of water spinach and water spinach.

After the whole day yesterday, Ms. Zhao already understood why her father-in-law asked her to bring her daughter-in-law to help. In fact, Ms. Wang's step-mother-in-law could not count on her sister-in-law.

It is not easy for Mrs. Zhao to talk about Mrs. Chen, an elder. After all, she is the aunt in the next room. However, this does not stop Mrs. Zhao from making her own choice: "I will bring you some cabbage and water spinach. You can serve as much as you want today. If you can't finish it, you can eat it at home tomorrow."

Wang's vegetable plot is less than a month old, and not much vegetables have grown. Therefore, the vegetables for this banquet are really tight. Otherwise, there are so many vegetables, only two vegetables. Zhao's arrival was of great help.

"Hey, sister-in-law, thank you." Wang said gratefully.

"Thank you, this thing is worthless. It would be a pity for the elders in the vegetable field to use it to feed chickens and pigs." Mrs. Zhao said nonchalantly, "Here, let me help you."

Mrs. Zhao took her daughter-in-law with her and did not treat herself as an outsider at all.

In the afternoon, tribesmen who came to have a feast came one after another, and Li Xiandong's house gradually became lively.

The last guest was Li Zheng, who brought his eldest son with him and shouted congratulations as soon as he entered the door.

Li Xiandong saw Li Zheng and quickly brought Li Zheng to the main table. At this table sat the clan leader, his third uncle, his eighth uncle, his father, his second uncle and several elders of the clan.

As for Li Zheng's son, he led Li Xinhe, Xiannan and others to a table next to him.

When everyone is here, the food is served.

What was served first was a large plate of oily bone soup. The soup was full of oily bone marrow, as well as various fresh mushrooms and dried products soaked in oil.

Then there is the quivering steamed pork with soy sauce that is steamed until soft and rotten. The sauce is thick in color and the fat is shining.

Next came the braised fish with thick soup, the sour and fragrant braised fish with pickled cabbage, the golden and crispy croquettes...even the green vegetables had more oil residue than others.

Some people couldn't help but swallowed their saliva.

The adults held on to their children tightly, fearing that the children could not bear it and used the chopsticks first, which would be rude.

Li Shengli was very excited today. Originally, he thought that his eldest son's house was not well built, so he didn't bother much. Unexpectedly, when he took a look today, he found that the house was much more respectable than he had imagined. Li Shengli immediately became happy. The fact that his son was living a good life meant that he was not the stepfather - he separated the family, but for the sake of his son, he didn't care how well built his son's house was.

Just now, Li Shengli had been sitting on the chairman's chair telling people how happy he was for his eldest son, and even said that he wanted to start eating.

Logically speaking, Li Xiandong needed to say some decent words to start the banquet. Unexpectedly, it took Xiandong a long time to hold back and say, "Thank you everyone for coming to the banquet. Grab your chopsticks and let everyone eat until they are full."

Li Shengli wished he could do it for him.

But as Li Xiandong finished speaking, there was already a chorus of greetings from below, "Congratulations."

Then they dropped their chopsticks one after another, and almost only the afterimages were visible.

This food is so fragrant that people can't stand it for a long time. Just out of etiquette, the host hasn't touched the chopsticks yet. I'm embarrassed to start. What else can I say now?

Li Xiaohan picked up a piece of steamed meat and felt helpless. Her father was still like this, working hard and frustrated. Honest people suffer in situations like this.

However, although Li Xiandong didn't say anything like this, he was still a bright-eyed person.

For example, the third uncle at the main table admires Li Xiandong very much. He is capable, willing to work, open-minded and does not care about temporary grievances. In time, he is bound to live a good life.

As the elder of the clan, Third Uncle likes young people like this in the clan, so he took the initiative to raise his wine bowl and said, "Xiandong, do your best, Third Uncle likes you."

Li Xiandong was so flattered that he stood up in panic and said repeatedly, "Third uncle, third uncle, I respect you." After saying this, he drank all the wine.

Those who can sit at the main table will either live longer than Li Xiandong, or live better than Li Xiandong. Seeing this, it is natural to understand that although Li Xiandong lacks tact, he is willing to work and capable. Such a person can live his own life more than enough, and may not have anything. You are very promising and support your relatives and friends, but if you are in trouble, he will never step on you.

Life is a thing with many ups and downs. Who can say for sure what will happen in the future.

Of course, some people are just being polite, but Li Xiandong, who has been suppressed for a long time, has gained unprecedented satisfaction.

Not long after, Li Xinhe from below came with a group of nephews and nephews to toast, and they all called him Uncle Xiandong.

Li Xiaohan was eating the food while observing the people of the Li clan around him. The main table was the highest level of the Li clan. With the third uncle and the clan leader leading the way, the atmosphere at the table was harmonious.

At the next table, Li Xiaohan first paid attention to the son brought by the head of the village. There was no look of disgust on his face, but pure congratulations.

Either Li Zheng's sons are so mature in cultivation that no one can see what's in their minds; or they really came here with a congratulatory attitude, and the Li family should not be underestimated in the eyes of the Li family leader.

Why Li didn't talk about his father? Of course, Li Xiaohan knew about his father, but he couldn't make the village chief look at him differently. That was because of the Li family's reputation.

Most of the Li clan members who came down below were thin, but they didn't look too hungry. They ate meat and vegetables without any rudeness such as grabbing food. The atmosphere was harmonious as they talked and laughed.

There are people with children, and the children are well-educated.

Li Xiaohan remembered that the Li family had a clan education. His father and his cousins, no matter how talented they were, all knew a few words in the clan academy.

Although the Li family has declined in recent years, its heritage from the outside to the inside is still there.

Living in such a clan, it is best not to break the clan rules easily until you have enough strength.

Li Xiaohan secretly came to a conclusion in his heart, and his eyes returned to the main table: At the main table, facing everyone who came to toast, Li Xiandong refused everyone who came, and he drank a lot of wine without taking two bites of the food.

It can be seen that even if it is his home court, her father does not take the initiative.

Her father didn't know what to do.

Li Xiaohan sighed in his heart and decided to help his father. If there was anything that could make the cautious man speak, it would be to talk about the things he was most familiar with and proud of.

"Dad, Brother Xinhe and the others said they want to visit the new house. Don't get too excited and forget about customs."

When you join in and have a drink, you can visit the new house room by room. At this time, there is no taboo for uncles, aunts, girls, and boys. Firstly, the host family can show off, and secondly, everyone can also learn how to build a new house.

"That's exactly the truth," said the third uncle.

He listened to his grandson Li Deyou all day long saying that Li Xiandong's house was well built and that the master built it after the city's style. "I heard that there are many remarkable things about your house. Let me tell you about it."

When the topic came to the house that Li Xiandong was most proud of, he could speak.

"Come, Third Uncle, let me show you my house. First of all, the ground floor of the main room. Look, it's clean and smooth. I asked the master to apply it with Sanhe soil. You won't be afraid of mud when it rains or snows."

Everyone lowered their heads and praised, "No wonder, I have felt that this floor is different for a long time. It turns out that it is like this."

"And my corridor, from now on, even if it rains, the snowman will not get wet. Vegetables, bacon, and clothes can be dried on the corridor, and no one at home will be afraid of being harmed." Li Xiandong is a pragmatist. .

Everyone raised their heads again, and they all became pragmatists like Li Xiandong, "This is good, this is good, practical, it looks like it's just a matter of adding some wood tiles, and it's not expensive."

"And my room is equipped with both a fire kang and a fire wall. The whole room is warm in winter."

What Li Xiandong was embarrassed to say was that the master said that this room with a fire wall is the most suitable for children to play. It will not be like the fire kang, where it is hot and the surroundings are cold.

Everyone followed Li Xiandong and visited the two main rooms with fire walls. Fortunately, Li Xiaohan already knew this custom and put away the things. They also visited the side rooms, including the kitchen and woodshed.

When they saw the pile of firewood in the woodshed, someone asked, "Uncle Xiandong, why is this kind of firewood all in your woodshed? What kind of firewood is this?"

"Oh, this is a fake silkworm tree, it's fragrant. I cut down several trees in the field to make furniture, and the useless twigs were used for fire."

"Oh, this fake silkworm tree is probably the tree where Mrs. Zhang smoked bacon. Some people like the smell." Everyone watching suddenly realized.

"Yes, our family also really likes the smell of this fake silkworm tree." Li Xiaohan said with a smile, his almond-shaped eyes turning into a crescent moon.

The fine decoration of the home depends on these fake silkworm trees.

=== Chapter === 20

After eating and drinking, and after visiting the new house, everyone left with satisfaction. The food on the table was so delicious that even the fried vegetables with oil residue were eaten up because of the excess oil and water.

The guests left, leaving only the woman who came to help in the kitchen.

The women quickly washed the dish basins, tables, and stools, and waited for the water to be dried and sent back to the clan tomorrow.

After washing, Mrs. Wang took out some of the fried pork belly, croquettes, small fish, tofu, etc. that she had prepared for the banquet and shared them with everyone as a thank you for everyone's help. This is also the custom in Pingshan Village.

All the women who got the items were happy: most of the noodles at Li Xiandong's house were fried, and even the tofu had more oil and water than usual. Who doesn't like oil and water these days.

After sending everyone away and closing the door, only Li Xiandong's family was left in the house.

No matter how tired he was, Li Xiaohan still swept the floor of his room, replaced the straw on the kang, and smoked it with mugwort before falling back to sleep.

Early the next morning, Li Xiandong and his family all got up late. He didn't get up until three o'clock in the morning.

There were still leftovers from yesterday. The three of them steamed the sauced pork, stir-fried some cabbage, sauerkraut and small fish and simmered pancakes on the side of the pot. It was a hearty meal.

After the meal, Li Xiandong put on his straw hat and prepared to go to the fields to take a look. During this time, everyone was busy building houses and the fields were neglected. Seeing that it was almost time to sow winter wheat, Li Xiandong had to seize the time to prepare the land and not delay the sowing of wheat before the beginning of winter.

Mrs. Wang arranged her pots and pans in the kitchen, and placed the oil, salt, sauce and vinegar neatly on the stove.

Mrs. Wang likes this kind of life. This is the life she had dreamed of before getting married. Then she thought it would never happen again, and now it happens again.

Li Xiaohan picked up the broom and swept the yard carefully.

After sweeping the floor, Li Xiaohan put his hands on his hips and looked at the pile of fake silkworm trees in the woodshed that had not yet been dealt with, and nodded inwardly.

Very good, the house is built, people are free, and some things can be put on the agenda.

By the time Li Xiandong came back from the fields, Li Xiaohan and Mrs. Wang had already packed up their home and put on clothes for going into the city. After settling into their new home, they were the only ones left at home. Mrs. Wang could safely consult the doctor without fear of other people's eyes. Take medicine.

"Xiaohan, what are you doing? How do you put the fake silkworm tree in the basket?"

"Mom, I was thinking, this fake silkworm tree is so fragrant and carries such special silk. Do you think I can sell it for money?" Li Xiaohan straightened up and quickly put the basket on his back.

"How is this possible..." Mrs. Wang paused. Her daughter had been enlightened by her mother-in-law. Could it be that her mother-in-law was reminding them?

"Mom, why is it impossible? No one knows that fake ginseng is from before Panax notoginseng, and everyone says it's worthless." Li Xiaohan said sternly, "Anyway, we are going to the city, so just take it with us and put some effort into it. No way. It's nothing."

"Okay, bring it with you. It won't take much effort anyway."

Li Xiandong quickly made a decision. After joining the group and drinking together, Li Xiandong saw the benefits of being rich.

Look, his hospitality of meat and vegetables is good, which tribesman wouldn't praise him.

Li Xiandong began to desire to make money.

The road into the city was not far, but they arrived a little late today. When they arrived at the city, the city gate was already open. When they arrived at the entrance of Renhetang, Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang poked their heads in to see that no one from the village had entered.

Li Xiaohan followed Wang and Li Xiandong into Renhe Hall.

Seeing Li Xiandong's family, the doctor's apprentice at Renhetang was not surprised. After all, the farmer dressed up a lot. Besides, the clerk still remembered that Li Xiandong's family came to sell some precious Panax notoginseng plants half a month ago.

However, seeing Li Xiandong coming again, the clerk murmured in his heart: Could it be that this person is really so lucky that he found Sanqi again after so long? Are they everywhere in this mountain? impossible!

Although his mind was spinning a lot, the waiter responded quickly: "Are you here to sell medicinal materials again this time?"

"Hey." Li Xiaohan replied, and then asked: "Why don't you see Dr. Zhang today?"

"Doctor Zhang has something to do." The clerk led them into the yard as he spoke, "Take it out."

"Man, what we are selling today is not Panax notoginseng, but this." Li Xiaohan put down his backpack and picked up the fake silkworm bark inside.

"this…"

Although the clerk was well-informed in the medicine hall and there were people who used tree bark as medicine, for a while, the clerk really couldn't recognize what kind of medicinal material it was.

"Man, look, this is no ordinary tree. Look, this bark, when broken open, is full of silver threads. And this bark, if you smell it carefully, there is a fragrance. In addition to the cinnamon bark, we also I've only seen this special tree before."

Li Xiaohan took out a piece of bark, broke it open neatly and gave it to the boy to smell, "Smell it, doesn't it smell very fragrant and special?"

The clerk was shocked by Li Xiaohan's natural attitude, and was subconsciously convinced. Yes, such a special and fragrant tree should not be an ordinary tree.

"It's fragrant, with silver threads...what is it?" Moreover, it does look a bit familiar, the boy murmured to himself while recalling.

The three of them did not dare to interrupt the young man's thinking and looked at him eagerly.

The young boy was not very old. He looked at Li Xiaohan's dark, watery eyes in front of him, looking at him intently. He was distracted for a moment: I haven't seen you for more than half a month, and this girl seems to have gained a little weight, and she seems to have a few more years. The points are neat, especially the eyes, which are dark and smart.

When I'm distracted, I can't think of anything else.

"Let me take a look." A few people were standing in a stalemate, and the door to the main room on the right suddenly opened, and the thin Doctor Zhang strode out.

Li Xiaohan held a roll of bark and smiled.

Doctor Zhang took the bark handed over by Li Xiaohan, casually broke off a corner, and gently twisted the cross-section of silver wire with his thumb and index finger, as if feeling the texture.

Then he raised the bark to his eyes and looked at the sunlight. "The inner skin is smooth, the skin is thick and large, and the air is pungent."

Finally, Dr. Zhang actually broke off a bit of white skin inside, put it in his mouth, chewed it for a while, and then said, "It tastes slightly bitter and has a sticky feel when chewed."

Li Xiaohan was shocked by the gesture of Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs.

This ancient Chinese medicine is really dedicated.

"This is the freshly peeled bark of Eucommia bark. What you usually see in pharmacies is processed dried bark." Doctor Zhang said this to the waiter.

Sure enough, the waiter calmed down and said seriously: "I understand, Doctor Zhang."

"Did you peel off the bark of this tree?" This sentence was said to Li Xiaohan.

This family acted like they were farmers, but they accurately harvested useful bark and cut it so beautifully.

Yes, this square piece of bark with straight and horizontal cutting lines on all four sides, neat fractures, and smooth and undamaged bark on the inside is beautiful in Doctor Zhang's eyes.

A piece of tree bark that has been treated so beautifully does have a strange aura when it appears in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to do it.

"I cut it, is there any problem? I heard people said that all the cinnamon bark is useful, so I cut off one peel."

Li Xiaohan pretended not to understand and asked, "Besides the skin, is there anything else useful? We also picked branches and leaves. Doctor, can you take a look?"

After saying that, Li Xiaohan took out the branches from the basket without waiting for Doctor Zhang to react.

I saw that the branches were all plucked twigs as thick as chopsticks, and tied into a handful that could be held, about the thickness of an adult's arm. The green leaves on the branches are green in color and extend obediently in one direction.

Then I scanned Li Xiaohan's patched but clean clothes, neat hair, clean face, and a pair of black and white eyes that were both calm and smart.

Maybe this family is neat.

After coming to this conclusion, Doctor Zhang relaxed his tone and said, "Well, Eucommia ulmoides is the bark of the tree used as medicine. Based on the quality you brought here, we will buy it at 40 yuan per catty."

Li Xiandong and Wang's hearts were trembling: 40 Wen, 40 Wen, the bark of this tree is so thick and heavy.

Sanqi searched all over the mountain, but couldn't find it again, but there were still many Eucommia trees on the mountain.

The two of them couldn't even speak for a while.

Li Xiaohan suddenly raised his head and asked Doctor Zhang, "Doctor Zhang, I just heard you say that all pharmacies are processed dry skin. Is this dry skin dried in the sun? Or is it processed by other methods? Is it difficult? In Will it be processed here? I think you don't have enough space. If there are too many of you, I'm afraid a lot of Eucommia bark will be sent over?"

"Do you have a lot of Eucommia bark?" Dr. Zhang asked doubtfully, "Little girl, don't think that all the trees in the mountains and plains are good. Eucommia trees bloom only after 10 years. Only after they bloom can the bark be used as medicine. Good-quality Eucommia bark is the best. Fortunately, it is more than 15 years old. Just now, the quality of your Eucommia bark is good enough, so we paid this price. If you bring new branches, we will not accept them."

"There are quite a lot of them in the mountains, and they must have been growing for more than ten years. Some people here like to use eucommia branches to smoke bacon. If everyone knew that eucommia trees could be sold for money, they would definitely send them over."

Smoking bacon is indeed a habit of growing it.

However, if the villagers knew they could make money, they must have cut down the bark to make money. Considering that the bark of Eucommia bark is so big and they have so few manpower in this place, it is indeed difficult to process the bark of Eucommia bark.

For the time being, send it somewhere else, it's too conspicuous. The owner probably won't be happy.

Thinking of this, Doctor Zhang nodded and said, "Xiao Shi, call the shopkeeper over."

Look at what this farmer is capable of.

=== Chapter === 21

Soon the shopkeeper opened the curtain and came in.

While Doctor Zhang and the shopkeeper were talking, they looked towards Li Xiaohan and the others from time to time, shaking their heads and nodding in the middle of the conversation, making Li Xiaohan's family fearful.

Finally, the shopkeeper nodded and shouted, "Lao Shi, come here and teach this family how to prepare Eucommia ulmoides."

Lao Shi is the father of the assistant Xiao Shi. In this business, there is also a tradition of father-son inheritance.

Xiaoshi first took turns as a waiter to practice his eyesight, but he didn't recognize Eucommia ulmoides.

Lao Shi watched anxiously from the side. He originally thought how to save his son without leaving any trace. Unexpectedly, Doctor Zhang came out first, and Lao Shi could only watch his son make a fool of himself.

Now, Doctor Zhang and others have decided to remove the dry skin, and Lao Shi is determined to show off his real skills, lest Doctor Zhang feel that neither his father nor his son are good enough.

With the intention of showing his face, Lao Shi taught him seriously and carefully.

However, in his heart, Lao Shi felt that it would not work for the Li family to prepare medicinal materials. The preparation of medicinal materials involves various factors: the processing method, the concentration of salt water, the size of the fire...

Those of them who have not been immersed in it since childhood, explored and accumulated it bit by bit, and can learn it so easily, then it is not preparing medicinal materials, but cooking.

However, it would be better for these farmers to fail, so as to highlight the importance of their concocted medicinal materials.

Lao Shi's heart was spinning a thousand times, but he didn't show it on his face at all. He only acted as if he was explaining with all his heart:

"First, remove impurities, scrape off the remaining rough skin, wash it, and cut it into pieces or shreds. No, just cut it into such large pieces."

Lao Shi took a piece of dried Eucommia ulmoides to show the size to the Li family. Li Xiaohan visually measured the size and changed it in his mind.

"Take pieces or shreds of Eucommia ulmoides, add salt water and mix well, allowing the salt water to fully soak into the Eucommia bark."

"Master Lao Shi, how much salt should you put in and how long should you soak it for?"

Why is it that the processing of medicinal materials in ancient times is like cooking, with the standards of a little, a few, maybe... it is impossible to measure.

"Well, it looks similar to you. Put about 1 jin of green salt in 50 jins of Eucommia ulmoides and soak it for a day."

Lao Shi had never summarized this ratio. They relied on feeling when preparing the medicinal materials. Fortunately, he was also a thoughtful person and thought about the usual dosage.

"Stir-fry over medium heat until the threads break and the surface is charred black. Take it out and spread it out to dry in time to cool thoroughly." Lao Shi thought for a moment and handed them a piece of dried eucommia bark. "Look, the final product looks like this."

Li Xiaohan took the Eucommia bark handed over by Lao Shi and observed it, mainly to observe and judge how different it was from modern Eucommia bark.

After careful observation, Li Xiaohan knew in his heart that the results were similar to those of modern Eucommia bark processing.

After confirming, Li Xiaohan handed the Eucommia bark to Li Xiandong and Wang.

Li Xiandong and Wang were nervous and excited. They wanted to learn a craft and make money, but they had no confidence.

Finally, he looked at it in confusion and fear, not daring to look at it for too long, and returned the dried skin to Li Xiaohan.

Compared with the nervousness of the two of them, Li Xiaohan's magnanimity and confidence attracted others' attention.

At the end of the day, it was Li Xiaohan who made the decision and sold the fresh eucommia bark he brought to Renhetang. The piece of bark Li Xiaohan peeled was particularly well treated, and it was sold for a total of 88 cents based on top grade.

Li Xiandong earned this money as if it had fallen from the sky in vain. He actually forgot that he had another thing to do. In the end, Li Xiaohan couldn't bear to look at it and reminded him, "Dad, didn't you say that you still need to find a doctor to treat your mother?" Isn't it? Dr. Zhang is the best candidate. I wonder if Dr. Zhang is free? "

The last words were addressed to Dr. Zhang. After coming here twice, everyone in this medicine hall has special respect for Dr. Zhang. He must be a highly respected old doctor.

Moreover, for some reason today, Dr. Zhang seemed to be very interested in his family and was always there. How could Li Xiaohan miss this opportunity?

"Oh, yes, yes. Doctor Zhang?" Li Xiandong nodded repeatedly, then raised his old face and looked at Doctor Zhang longingly and timidly.

He is not stupid, and naturally feels that Zhang Zhang's status as a doctor is respected.

However, in the past, they thought it would be nice to have a doctor look at it for them, but the doctor at Renhetang let them choose, and they didn't even dare to think about it.

Now that his daughter mentioned it, Li Xiandong realized that it could still be like this, that he could see a good doctor get involved quickly.

"Well, come with me." Dr. Zhang responded readily.

Several people arrived at the consulting room together.

"Hand out."

Mrs. Wang put her trembling hand on the medical case, and Dr. Zhang put it on her hand. After frowning for a while, Dr. Zhang said, "Change your hand."

Li Xiaohan observed Doctor Zhang carefully, and could only roughly tell from Doctor Zhang's furrowed brows, pursed lips, and serious expression that the situation was not ideal.

But this is also expected. The key is whether it can be cured.

Although Li Xiaohan had never given birth in his previous life, there was a lot of gossip among his colleagues about having children. I heard that there were also people around him who begged for medical treatment to be ineffective and finally went for in vitro fertilization.

"Your problem is postpartum disorder, years of emptiness, and irregular qi and blood. I will prescribe you a course of Jingjing Zhongyu Decoction, and come back to the doctor after you finish it."

"Yes, doctor." Wang nodded frantically, wanting to ask something but not daring to ask.

Only Li Xiaohan stretched out his head and asked: "Doctor Zhang, is my mother's condition serious? How many courses of treatment will she need?"

This question was quite straightforward, and some doctors would avoid it. Li Xiaohan just took advantage of his young age, so he spoke directly.

Fortunately, Dr. Zhang was not embarrassed. Instead, he patiently explained: "Your mother's problem was not serious at first, but her condition is getting worse and she needs to be nursed back to health. One day she will get her wish."

Hearing the doctor's answer, although Li Xiandong and Wang were uneasy, they felt a glimmer of hope - the doctor said it would happen one day.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiaohan turned around and said, "Doctor, please show it to my father."

Sometimes infertility is as much a problem for men as it is for women.

As soon as Li Xiaohan said this, everyone had different reactions. Wang shook his head repeatedly and hurriedly answered: "You don't have to look at it, dad. It's all my problem. It's all my problem."

Li Xiandong's face was filled with embarrassment and he was speechless for a moment.

Doctor Zhang pondered for a moment, nodded and said, "That makes sense, let's take a look together."

Suddenly, everyone's eyes came to Li Xiandong. Li Xiandong felt that his face was hot. Fortunately, his face was dark and he couldn't tell.

Just when Li Xiaohan was about to persuade again, Li Xiandong silently stretched out his hand and placed it on the medical record.

Doctor Zhang stretched out his hand to touch it, checked his pulse for a moment, frowned and said, "You are in the prime of life, and you have almost hollowed out your own foundation. I guess it is because you never cherished yourself in the past, but you can't see it now. If you continue like this, you will be Years later, you are suffering from a lot of illnesses. I will prescribe you a dose of Buzhong Yiqi Pills, and come back for consultation after eating."

Unexpectedly, Li Xiandong, the strongest person in the Li family, would have such hidden dangers. But think about Li Xiandong's first half of his life, he didn't hesitate to work hard to get recognition.

Suddenly, Li Xiandong suddenly realized whether the first half of his life was worth it.

On the contrary, it was Mrs. Wang, whose joy had disappeared, and her face was full of panic, "The baby's father, the baby's father..."

"Mom, don't worry, the doctor said so, it can still be cured. Just take the medicine and take good care of yourself."

"Well, at his age, it's not too late to discover it. If he takes good care of it, he can live to raise grandchildren."

As soon as Dr. Zhang said this, Wang and Li Xiandong felt reassured and looked happy.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Dada changed his voice and said, "I have seen them all. Little girl, please stretch out your hand and take a look at them all."

Li Xiandong and Wang looked tense and nervous, but Li Xiaohan stretched out his hand openly.

"Well, you have some deficiency symptoms and you are short. But you are young, so you can just eat more meat to replenish your health. You don't need to take medicine."

...he looks short, he looks short!

Li Xiaohan is quite excited. In his previous life, he was 1.7 meters tall!

But I am indeed a bit shorter in this life.

Li Xiaohan was very frustrated, and Li Xiandong and Wang were relieved to hear this. Fortunately, just eating some meat is enough. I guess I have been suffering from it since I was young.

Originally, it was only about Wang's medical treatment, but the whole family of three saw it all.

However, this is fine. I took the medicine according to the prescription. The money for medical treatment and medicine was really quite a lot. Although I left as much money as possible from selling Panax notoginseng last time, I can't say that the money for medical treatment was enough. All three members of the Li family felt a sense of urgency.

Fortunately, I discovered Eucommia ulmoides as a way to make money. There are still several Eucommia trees piled up in the woodshed at home ready for making furniture.

"Father, mother, let's go back." Li Xiaohan said, and hurried back to cut eucommia bark and sell the meat to replenish his body.

After the three members of the Li family left the medicine hall, Doctor Zhang washed his hands and returned to the right wing room he had just left.

"Second Young Master, after reading this, this family of three should be ordinary farmers. Their pulse record is just that of ordinary farmers." Doctor Zhang said respectfully.

=== Chapter === 22

"Second Young Master, I have seen it. There is nothing suspicious about this family of three. Their pulse is just that of an ordinary farmer, not a martial artist." Doctor Zhang said respectfully.

In front of Dr. Zhang, the man known as the Second Young Master, wearing a lake blue cross-collared woven green bamboo robe, raised his head slightly when he heard the words, revealing a good face with starry eyes, sword eyebrows and a jade look.

After listening to Doctor Zhang's words, the second young master showed a humble smile on his lips, and seemed to be relieved and said: "It's okay if I don't have it. When I first took over Renhetang, I was a little too cautious. I hope Doctor Zhang can forgive me."

Doctor Zhang breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.

In early September, Renhetang presented some good-quality Panax notoginseng, and the superiors sent someone to ask about it. Unexpectedly, the waiter was too talkative at the time and said a few more words. The person selling Panax notoginseng was not a common herb farmer, but a family. It's surprising that the little girl makes the decision.

In this way, I don't know how to attract the attention of the people above.

It happened that the young master's family came to hand over the gift today, and when he met that family, he came to deliver the eucommia skin. What he saw was that the little girl was even more graceful, and the eucommia skin was handled beautifully, so the young master asked him to give it a try.

There is nothing wrong with the test results. People's outward behavior can be changed, but their pulse condition cannot be changed. Those are traces recorded by the body over time.

As the doctor in charge of Renhe Hall, Dr. Zhang is passionate about medical skills. However, when Renhe Hall changes its owner, even Dr. Zhang cannot help but worry about the new official taking office.

"Be careful and you are not making a big mistake. The Second Young Master's move is certainly justified." Doctor Zhang said with a smile, "I saw that family was smart and clever, so I thought about the hidden drug acquisition that the Second Young Master said, so I asked someone to teach them how to concoct it. The method of Eucommia ulmoides."

"Doctor Zhang and the shopkeeper can make their own arrangements for such daily operations. Both of them are old people from Renhetang, and I have great trust in them."

The second young master has clear eyes and a clear voice. He is both noble and approachable. The superior man only needs to lower his head slightly to make people feel extremely happy.

"Yes, Madam, Second Young Master. I will retire then." Doctor Zhang was very happy.

"Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Zhang. Fu'er, send Doctor Zhang off." Next to the second young master, the beautiful lady who had been silent all this time said.

The lady is about forty years old, wearing a green round-neck robe with peony pattern and a yellow horse-faced skirt with four-in-one Ruyi cloud pattern. Her appearance is luxurious and charming. She is very similar to the second young master, but unfortunately her face is a bit different. Yellow and white disease qi, slightly weak.

"Yes, mother. Doctor Zhang, please." The second young master stood up, showing his slender posture, straight back, and the demeanor of a young man from a noble family.

Doctor Zhang couldn't refuse, and since he was determined to make good friends with the new owner, the two of them left the house just half a step away, and chatted for a while in front of the door, very harmonious.

After seeing off Doctor Zhang, the second young master returned to the side room.

"How's it going? There's nothing wrong with the family. I'd say you're too suspicious. Once bitten by a snake, you'll be afraid of the well rope for ten years." The lady raised the tea cup and said calmly.

The second young master was not annoyed, but he did not show any regrets: "Mom, the result of this trial is not better. In our family's situation, we have never encountered any temptation, so we should be careful to make the Wannian Ship."

The lady seemed to be reminded of some past events by these words. She paused for a while and sighed: "Maybe you are right. But the fate of parents and children in this world is the most magical. It does not mean that timid and honest parents cannot give birth to smart and smart children. Children. Based on this alone, we cannot doubt this family."

A pair of dark, watery eyes suddenly flashed through the Second Young Master's mind, growing on the bean sprouts' body, like pearls falling from rubble.

He wasn't checking this little girl because of her parents, but because of the little girl herself.

It was just a momentary fluctuation in his heart. Soon the second young master calmed down again and said to his wife: "Yes, mother. I understand. It is enough to patrol Renhetang today. You can leave it to me without worries and take a good rest first." stop."

The voice was calm and no one knew what it was thinking.

"I believe you. But Renhetang provides your father and brother with the medicine, so I will tell you in more detail. Come back."

After the two of them spoke, the maidservant took action and prepared to leave Renhetang.

Li Xiaohan didn't know that he was being investigated and discussed after he left.

Because there was a banquet yesterday, there was still a lot of vegetables and meat at home, so there was no need to buy any more. The three of them walked out of the gate of Renhetang and went straight home.

But, "Xiaohan, why are you still carrying these useless branches and leaves? Throw them away." Wang asked carefully.

Li Xiaohan was startled when he heard this. It turned out that he was still carrying it subconsciously.

How could it be useless? This is a product that spans the ages, a golden finger that can truly achieve a leap in wealth. But it hasn't been discovered yet.

The time hasn't come yet.

Li Xiaohan threw the branches and leaves towards the lush roadside, "Mom, I forgot for a moment, let's go."

"Why."

It was still early days when I returned home steaming hot. Although I was very eager to make money, the doctor's words were still in my ears. I couldn't fool the general with this meal.

Wang washed and cooked rice, Li Xiaohan cut vegetables, and Li Xiandong prepared things for going up the mountain.

After a while, there was meat, vegetables and a thick egg drop soup. The three of them finished the meal, then picked up the hatchet, the backpack, the ax... and angrily went to the back mountain to kill. go.

The destination, of course, is the eucommia trees in the unowned wilderness.

The plan is good, but the reality always turns out faster than planned.

As soon as the door was opened, Li Deyou and Li Xinhe happened to pass by: they were of the same age and status, one was the grandson of the third uncle, and the other was the son of the clan leader. Although they were separated by seniority, after helping Li Xiandong build a house, they were very familiar with each other. The two people who were close to each other got along better.

Seeing Li Xiandong's family, the quick-tongued Li Deyou said directly, "Brother Xiandong, why are you carrying an ax? There is not enough wood to knock out furniture. Do you want our help?"

After saying these words, Li Xiandong stopped, his face was embarrassed and embarrassed, with a look of struggle.

Are you telling the truth or not?

Say it, don't give in.

But let's not talk about it, Li Xiandong didn't know how to get around it.

The people who asked in particular were Li Deyou and Li Xinhe who had been helping their family build a house.

How to say? The honest man Li Xiandong began to hesitate.

The attentive Li Xinhe saw the embarrassment on his face and asked worriedly, "Uncle Xian Dong, are you encountering some difficulty? If you really can't tell, I won't ask. But if you need help, you can tell us?"

As soon as these words came out, Li Xiaohan let out a long sigh.

Her father must have been shaken.

If you think about it, Eucommia ulmoides is not as good as Panax notoginseng. It is large in size and low in price. It is difficult to avoid being discovered by the villagers when walking through the forest in the village all day long.

There are so many barked trees, it's only a matter of time before they are discovered.

In this case, the plan to make money secretly is probably not going to work, so we have to find another way.

Before Li Xiandong could speak, Li Xiaohan said, "Brother Xinhe and Uncle Deyou, we have encountered a little problem, but it is not difficult. You help my family cut down trees for a day today. My father will tell you a way to make a fortune. Can we exchange it?" good?"

Li Xinhe felt relieved when he heard that it was not a difficult matter, but doubts arose in his heart. However, he was a polite person and swallowed his words as soon as they came to his lips.

Li De was the only one. When he heard that there was a way to get rich, he said bluntly, "What kind of mysterious way to get rich? Niece Xiaohan, do you know about it?"

"Of course I know, but I can't tell you now. This method of making money is of course mysterious. Otherwise, if the streets are full of ways to make money, wouldn't everyone be rich?"

Li Xiaohan sighed, "That's why I told you secretly because my father has a good relationship with Uncle Deyou, Brother Xin and you guys. These people all have emotional priorities. You helped my family build a house. We have a way to make a fortune. , I must tell you first, otherwise how can we show our deep feelings."

Makes sense.

Li Xiaohan's words simply spoke to Li Xiandong's heart.

This tribe is a tribe, but Deyou, Xinhe and a few others helped him build a house for more than half a month.

He deserves special treatment, otherwise who would be better than him, Li Xiandong.

And this method is particularly good. Let Deyou and Xinhe help cut bark for their own family for a day. Their family can earn more, and Deyou and the others can also learn how to harvest this bark.

The doctor at the medicine hall said that not all Eucommia bark can be used, and there are tips for harvesting it.

When night comes, tell them the method yourself, and they can harvest a batch themselves tomorrow.

By the time the clan members found out, it would probably be several days later.

When the time comes, when others ask, tell yourself. He didn't feel guilty when someone said strange things. Who in the clan could tell all the ways to make money like him?

It's just a matter of earning more and earning less. Without him, Li Xiandong, no one would be able to earn a penny.

Li Xiandong thinks this method is really good, and his daughter is too smart.

He thought so and said this, "Deyou, Xinhe, if you have time, go home and get a hatchet and help me go up the mountain to chop down trees for a day. I'll tell you how to get rich tonight."

After saying that, Li Xiandong didn't wait for the two people to answer, and said, "I have to find Brother Guiqian's family and Xiannan. They are all helping me build a house. I have to call them together."

After saying that, Li Xiandong left in a hurry.

Li Xinhe and Li Deyou looked at Li Xiandong's back, and their doubts deepened.

Li Xiandong's performance at this time further supported Li Xiaohan's words.

Thinking of this, Li Xinhe and Li Deyou hurried home to get the hatchets. Before leaving, Li Xinhe also told Li Deyou, "Deyou, don't tell anyone else."

"I know, I'm not stupid."

In an instant, only mother and daughter were left in front of Li Xiandong's house.

"Mom, let's go in and get a few more baskets. I'm thinking that we should be able to cut several baskets of bark today."

Wang thought for a while, nodded, and went home to get two more backpacks.

After a while, Li Xiandong came with Li Guiqian, Li Jiayin, and Li Xiannan, and soon Li Xinhe and Li Deyou came back.

Several people walked towards the back mountain together. Not far into the back mountain, they saw an Eucommia ulmoides tree.

Li Xiandong looked at the Eucommia tree now as if he were looking at a pile of money. He was not sure for a moment. He stayed for a moment and asked, "Xiaohan, look at this tree. Does it count as what Doctor Du said is more than 10 years old?" Eucommia tree?"

=== Chapter === 23

Li Xiaohan looked up and took a closer look. He saw yellow-brown seeds among the branches and leaves, and said, "Dad, look, there are yellow-brown seeds among the branches and leaves. That is the Eucommia tree that blooms and bears fruit in ten years."

"Yes, there are seeds only after the flowers bloom." Li Xiandong grinned.

The two of them were talking attentively, and everyone except Wang was confused.

Moreover, no matter how you look at it, Xiaohan is more proficient in this way of making money.

Li De had a straightforward temper, so he asked directly, "Brother Xiandong, what do you think we are doing here? Isn't it cutting wood to make furniture? What difference does it make if it blooms or not?"

Li Xiandong thought for a while and said, "Deyou, I told you before that you help me chop wood for a day today, and I will tell you a way to make a fortune."

"But I can't tell you directly now. I'm really short of money. Look carefully and listen carefully." Li Xiandong was confused.

Li Deyou and others looked at each other, not knowing why.

"Dad, come here. I'll cut off the bottom layer of bark first, and then we'll chop down the tree."

Li Xiaohan had already walked to the Eucommia tree and began to think about where to strike.

Sometimes talking too much is useless, action will do.

Li Xiandong and Wang immediately gathered around.

The first bark was cut by Li Xiaohan. Li Xiandong and Wang also saw it in the medical clinic at that time. Doctor Zhang in the medical clinic recognized that bark very much.

Moreover, it was Li Xiaohan who heard more clearly when preparing Eucommia bark.

The two of them unconsciously took Li Xiaohan as the master.

Li Xiaohan carefully dug out the soil at the root of the tree, then used a hatchet to make a circle around the root, and then made another circle 6 feet above it. Finally, he made a vertical cut and pushed forward bit by bit with the knife. Peel off the bark...

"Look, in the end, the bark is the best if it is a whole piece like this, with a smooth inside and neat edges." Li Xiaohan said, but hesitated, "Maybe uneven bark will do, but maybe the quality It's not that good."

"That won't work." Li Xiandong and Wang shook their heads together.

If the quality is not good, the price will drop a notch. Because I didn't do it well, I sold for less money. It was like taking money out of my own pocket and throwing it into the water.

This is absolutely not possible.

The two of them watched Li Xiaohan's operation carefully, and followed Li Xiaohan's instructions step by step to peel the skin, for fear that it would be torn, damaged, and sold for less money...

The actions of the three members of the Li family, such as Pang Ruoren, gradually made the onlookers like Li Deyou and others smell an unusual smell.

Especially Li Xinhe, as the son of the patriarch, he naturally knew how much cash Li Xiandong got when he split up the family, but the house Li Xiandong built obviously exceeded the scope of the split money. It's just that it's not good to ask too much about money.

Now it seems that this is the origin of the extra money.

Thinking of this, Li Xinhe sighed in his heart, Uncle Xian Dong is so kind.

All I can say is that sometimes smart people just love to think too much.

Li Xinhe was smart, and the others were not stupid either. Gradually, his heart became warm and boiling.

After Li Xiandong and the others finished peeling off the bark underneath, they cut down the entire tree. After peeling off the bark, the trunk remained in place and the bark was taken away. A few people became more certain.

Li Xiaohan took out another cloth bag and carefully collected the seeds of the Eucommia ulmoides tree.

Seeing this, Li Xiandong and Wang remembered the seeds of Panax notoginseng and hurriedly stepped forward to help.

Everyone in the Li family farms, so they naturally know that seeds are for breeding, and they pay more attention to it.

In the past, I heard that when Madam Zhang planted Eucommia trees, she would go into the mountains to pick out small Eucommia trees and transplant them, or take cuttings. I never thought that this Eucommia tree could be cultivated by oneself.

Finally, Li Xiaohan directed everyone to cut the strong branches of Eucommia ulmoides into an arm length, and cut them in a circle around the chopped tree - the cutting of branches is usually done at the transition between spring and summer. It is now the end of September. In fact, It's no longer appropriate, but let's do our best to let fate dictate.

Li Xiaohan's behavior made Li Xinhe narrow his eyes, and his inner evaluation of this cousin was even higher - fishing without drying up the lake, hunting without burning the forest, the world only cares about what is in front of them, but this cousin actually You can also pay attention to leaving a little flame in a deserted place.

If Li Xiaohan knew what Li Xinhe was thinking, he would definitely say that he thought too much.

What she did was nothing more than the educational gap of thousands of years. It was a natural thing for her, and it would not rise to that level.

Because their brains were too harmonious, when looking for the next tree, Li Guiqian, Li Deyou, Li Xinhe and others exerted 120,000 degrees of subjective initiative and fully mobilized all their brain cells to steal the tree. help…

Finally, after knocking down the second tree, according to the default seniority ranking, 47-year-old Li Guiqian carefully said to his 13-year-old cousin Li Xiaohan, "Niece Xiaohan, how about I let you honor my cousin?" Try it, I promise, you must be very careful."

After Li Guiqian died, Li Deyou almost couldn't restrain himself.

That's great, his father is the elder, so it will be his turn next time.

By the end of that day, Li Xiandong and the others had cut the bark of five trees. By the end, they had become so skilled that it only took half an hour to peel off the bark of a tree.

The main time spent is looking for trees of sufficient age.

The sun is about to set, and the forest at night is very dangerous. Therefore, even though they were still not satisfied, several people had to hurry up and go down the mountain.

Back at the door of Li Xiandong's house, although they had worked for a long time and ate a few cooking cakes brought by Li Xiaohan and others, everyone only felt indescribable excitement and almost looked at Li Xiandong with glowing eyes. family.

Li Xiaohan tugged on Li Xiandong's sleeves, and Li Xiandong suddenly realized it. He paused and then said: "Ahem, I have said it before. Please help me for a day, and I will tell you a way to make a fortune. Now. , I guess everyone has guessed it, it's this fake silkworm tree, oh, it's called Eucommia ulmoides tree in Renhetang. The bark of this tree can be used as medicine, and Renhetang charges 40 yuan per pound."

Oh my god.

It's actually true. I guessed it right. This bark can make money.

How heavy is the bark? The thinnest tree today weighs almost twenty kilograms of bark, which is eight hundred cents.

Eight hundred cash, all year round, working in the farmland with tight belts and tight belts, the remaining money is only a few pennies.

To build a 4-room mud house, it only costs about 4 liters. Today, they earned a house made of mud and tiles.

Li Deyou was so nervous that he stuttered, "Xian...Brother Xiandong, is this true? Will they keep accepting it?"

"It's true. I don't know if they will keep accepting me."

Li Xiandong replied dryly, and then everyone stared at him.

Li Xiaohan sighed and took up the topic, "Uncle Deyou, and all my uncles and uncles, I don't know if Renhetang will continue to collect them, but they will definitely collect them recently. However, please note that the bark must be more than ten years old. How to tell the difference, I have told you today. You have also learned."

"Also, the medical center also collects processed eucommia bark. It needs to be washed, cut into pieces, soaked in salt water and fried to dry. Good quality can cost about 150 yuan per kilogram of dried skin."

"This method was difficult to explain for a while, and we also listened to the master from the medical clinic demonstrate it to us. We thought we should give it a try. You can also go to the medical clinic to learn it."

One hundred and fifty cents per pound!

Although it is dry bark, dry tree bark is also heavy. How much money can you make from this bark?

Everyone was so happy that they felt a little dizzy.

I can't believe that such a huge opportunity to make a fortune fell into their hands.

It was Li Xinhe who read a lot. As the future successor of the clan leader, he tried his best to stabilize himself. "Sister Xiaohan, how confident are you in making Eucommia bark? Do you think we can learn it?"

During the days when he was helping Li Xiandong's family build a house, Li Xinhe was listening and watching with eyes and ears: in Uncle Xiandong's family, the one with the most skillful hands, the most flexible mind, and the most ideas was this cousin.

"I think I'm about 50% sure. I don't know about other people. It's different for everyone."

Li Xiaohan gave a conservative estimate. In fact, including his previous life experience, it was at least 90%, but there was no need to say this.

After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, he thought for a while and said to Li Xinhe, "Brother Xinhe, please wait for me. Dad, please open the door for me. I will show Brother Xinhe and the others the dried eucommia bark I bought from the medical clinic." "

"Hey." After saying that, Li Xiandong opened the door of his house, and everyone simply carried all the baskets in and put them away carefully - of course, they had to be careful. In this basket, it was not bark, it was all money.

Li Xiaohan also took out the Eucommia bark and opened it for everyone to see.

Li Xin and a few others leaned over and saw that it was indeed a piece of bark. The frying process looked much more refined, but it still looked somewhat similar to the bark they peeled off today.

After reading it, Li Xiaohan broke one of the pieces into several small pieces and distributed them to Li Xinhe and others. "No, we didn't buy much. Let's take some back for everyone to take a look and make a sample. You can go up the mountain by yourself tomorrow. Cut down the Eucommia trees."

Since it was to show goodwill to Li Xinhe and others, it was natural to make a very good gesture. It's the stupidest thing to do something like hiding something unwillingly.

As for Li Xiaohan's certainty that they will go up the mountain tomorrow, hey, when it comes to making money, Li Xiaohan does not underestimate anyone's enthusiasm.

Moreover, regardless of whether there are eucommia trees in the forest at home, these people will definitely cut down the eucommia trees in the wild before they cut down the trees in their own forest.

Again, whatever is in your forest is yours, and what is in the wild is first come, first served.

"Hey. That's great." Several people carefully took the dried bark of Eucommia ulmoides, "Well...brother Xiandong/niece Xiaohan/sister-in-law/uncle, we will cut the skin of Eucommia ulmoides tomorrow. Let's go home first."

"Hey, go ahead."

As soon as Li Xiandong finished speaking, several people immediately walked away and disappeared.

As for this important matter of making money, go home and discuss it with your family immediately.

=== Chapter === 24

Third uncle's family.

"You mean, Xiandong said that the fake silkworm tree is the Eucommia ulmoides tree, and the bark is just a medicinal material?" The third uncle asked, leaning on crutches.

"Yes, Renhetang in the city collects it for 40 cents per catty, and it can be prepared for 140 cents."

Li De looked amazed, "I think this is a bit difficult to concoct, but niece Xiaohan said she is 50% sure, give it a try. niece Xiaohan is really brave."

"Xiandong went to Renhetang to sell?"

"Yes, Brother Xiandong has tried it." Li Deyou sighed, "Brother Xiandong is really smart. I never thought that tree bark can be sold for money."

Li Xiandong's brain is not alive. If he were more alive, an eldest son would not be separated out so nearly naked.

The third uncle rolled his eyes at the youngest grandson, but maybe it would be a blessing to be separated? !

"Today Xiandong took you to cut eucommia for a day. Did you all learn it? What did Xiandong say at that time?"

"Brother Xiandong is really a generous person. He said that because we helped him build a house, he told us this way to make money. He also made an excuse and said that we would help them do a day's work. In fact, he has been Teach us, teach us how to identify this tree that is more than ten years old and how to harvest this bark."

Li Deyou paused for a moment, "Well, it seems that Xiaohan's niece has always taught us. In short, people in the village used to misunderstand Brother Xiandong's family."

The third uncle was too lazy to pay attention to this grandson: the misunderstanding was just for nothing. Could it be that he had ruined Li Xiandong's reputation?

How could such a stupid person be his grandson?

My home is still too harmonious.

"Don't tell anyone except your family about this matter. I'll go find the clan leader."

But even this stupid grandson, with his stupid third uncle who thinks he is smart, can only help to find out.

"Yes." Li Deyou agreed quickly. Anyway, if his grandfather and the clan leader knew about it, they would definitely handle it. All he had to do was follow their orders.

When the third uncle came to the patriarch's house, Li Xinhe had already told his father, the patriarch, everything.

Li Xinhe said much more than Li Deyou, focusing on Li Xiaohan's collecting the seeds of Eucommia trees and cutting the branches after cutting down the trees.

"According to what you said, Xiaohan is actually so smart and kind?" Patriarch Li was dubious.

Li Xiaohan is a girl, only 13 years old. She doesn't look like someone with such long-term thinking.

But if it weren't for Li Xiaohan, Li Xiandong would have been in contact with the clan leader before, and he was not a person with such wisdom.

As for the Wang family, that is not in Chief Li's consideration at all.

"Well, the person in their family who actually provides the ideas and talks is actually Sister Xiaohan." Li Xinhe also doubted his conclusion, but in the end he found out that this was the truth.

Patriarch Li knew that his son was not very sure and would not come to such a conclusion.

For a moment, Patriarch Li didn't know what to say.

After a while, Patriarch Li sighed heavily, "It would be great if Xiaohan were a boy. Our Li family would have another successor."

As soon as these words came out, Li Xinhe couldn't help but secretly ask himself, if Xiaohan's sister was a man, could he be comparable to her?

The father and son had different thoughts. For a moment, no one made a sound, and they fell into silence.

The arrival of the third uncle broke the silence, "Chief, let me ask you, what do you think about Eucommia ulmoides? You have to find a way out."

How to balance the interests of the entire clan and individuals and lead a clan forward is something that every clan leader should think about and work hard on.

"This method, how many Xiandong family can tell them, shows that the Xiandong family is a kind and righteous people." The patriarch said slowly, setting the tone for this matter in advance.

No kind person should be harmed.

"I thought, this Eucommia thing can't be hidden for too long. Everyone is watching the comings and goings, and the peeled trees in the mountains can't be hidden either. Probably because of this, the Xiandong family I just told these few of them, and I didn't say that I couldn't tell anyone else. And in this village, people who are related to each other will spread the news from ten to ten, and they won't be able to hide it for long."

"However, just because of this, the clan cannot treat Xiandong's family as fools and ask him to make selfless sacrifices. Therefore, the clan will not take the initiative to publicize this matter for now, and let Xiandong and the others make a profit first. Once the other villagers ask, I Let one person from each family help Xiandong with a day's work, just like Xinhe and De have them."

"In this way, I think, after about three or four days, most people will know this method. By then, Xiandong will have already drunk the soup."

The patriarch spoke very slowly, but tried his best to consider all aspects.

The third uncle nodded and reminded, "Okay, but I want to remind you that there are always some people who are dark and unhappy."

There are people who hate others, and there are always those who are secretly jealous.

"Hmph, let him come and tell me if he's upset. Let me see who dares to be upset. Just helping out for a day, and getting rich for nothing. My family is Xinhe, and yours is a virtuous family, and you even helped Xiandong build it for half a month. As for the house, they dare to be upset and take advantage of them."

"There are also those who feel that they are late and make less money. I think they usually hide their efforts in weaving a straw mat that is better than others, but they don't generously contribute their way to make money."

In this way, the whole matter was decided, and the third uncle asked again, "Okay, now that the matter with Xiandong is settled, what about the trees on the clan common land."

"Preserve your future, support the old and the young, support clan education expenses, and continue to buy clan fields and clan lands if you have more. This is the ancestral teaching." The clan leader said directly without thinking.

"Well, you just have an idea in mind. Xiandong, have you asked him to come over?" As the most virtuous and respected elder in the clan, even if Li Xiandong is a hero in the clan, he should not be invited by his third uncle in person.

The patriarch swallowed his saliva and said, "Third uncle, there is something I want to tell you. Xinhe said that the person secretly making decisions in Xiandong's family may not be Xiandong, but Xiaohan."

"Impossible." The third uncle waved his cane and pointed it at Patriarch Li. "Don't think that I am too old and my brain is too old. How old is that girl Xiaohan? She is in her early ten years. You said she gave the idea? You think I'm stupid."

"Third uncle, he is 13 years old, but he is a bit thinner." Patriarch Li said with a bitter smile, "You think I want to believe it, but Xinhe's words are reasonable and well-founded. Also, do you remember the scene on the day when Xian Dong's family held a banquet? , greeted the tribesmen and arranged the banquet, which was both appropriate and grand. Even Xiandong lost his temper after drinking. It was Xiaohan who filled his father with jealousy."

The banquet that day was so successful that when I think about it now, the third uncle and the clan leader feel that it was inappropriate - there must be a very suitable head mistress.

Wang?

No, you can tell by the look of that quail!

Li Xiandong?

Let Li Xiandong farm, I believe he can do it, and let Li Xiandong arrange the details of who will sit with whom, when to serve food, and when to visit the new house.

cannot.

The patriarch and his third uncle still knew Li Xiandong.

Then, the remaining thing that seems least likely is the most likely.

With agility far beyond his age, the third uncle instantly turned his head and stared at his grandson Li Deyou with lightning eyes, "You have helped your brother Xiandong build a house for more than half a month, and you have spent a lot of time with their family. ,What do you think?"

Li Deyou was originally listening and was so shocked that he was suddenly stared at by his grandfather. He was very nervous for a moment, "Ah, niece Xiaohan, the cooking is quite delicious. But..."

Li Deyou slowly came to his senses and said with a belated realization: "It's not impossible. In Brother Xiandong's house, as long as Xiaohan wants to do something, no matter how big or small, he will naturally do it in the end. ."

The important thing is that this is natural.

The third uncle finally wanted to take a serious look at this inconspicuous elder of the clan. At the age of 13, he could grow up like this without any guidance, so he should take a serious look at it.

Don't underestimate women. At his age, Third Uncle has survived in troubled times, but he doesn't underestimate a woman.

It is said that the current queen also came from a bitter background to accompany the saint.

"In that case, let's go to Xiandong's house to have a look and talk about Eucommia ulmoides."

=== Chapter === 25

When the patriarch, third uncle and others arrived, Wang was cooking, and Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong were handling the eucommia bark that was cut today - cleaning it briefly, and then finding a cool and ventilated place to put it away to prevent it from growing together. Mold affects the properties of the medicine.

"Third uncle, clan leader."

Seeing his third uncle and the clan leader coming over, Li Xiandong stood up cautiously and greeted them.

He has a square face that is common among the Li clan. He has been tanned and tanned by working all day long. His eyes are quite big, but he looks a little overwhelmed and panicked.

The clan leader and his third uncle looked at Li Xiandong carefully, and finally showed disappointment. Sure enough, even the elders and clan leaders in the clan looked like this. They couldn't expect Li Xiandong to have such structure and wisdom.

Could it really be the 13-year-old Li Xiaohan?

The clan leader and his third uncle took a serious look at this younger member of the clan who had never paid attention to him for the first time.

He was a bit short and thin, and the clan leader and his third uncle frowned slightly.

He has an oval face, which is not like Wang's bitter and thin oval face. He looks a bit like the deceased Luo.

There was only one pair of eyes, dark and bright. They were slightly surprised at first, but soon became calm again, and in the end, only calmness and ease remained.

It just doesn't look like 13 years old.

The patriarch and the third uncle asked themselves that they had met many people, but this kind of magnanimity and demeanor that was inconsistent with their age and experience could only be praised by the aura of heaven and earth.

If Li Xiaohan wanted to know what the two of them were thinking, he would have to blush and make a few excuses: It's just that he has eaten too much in modern times, and has been invisibly washed away by thousands of years of accumulated knowledge.

It's a pity that no one here can read minds.

Li Xiandong became restless as he was scrutinized by two important figures in the clan. Later, the clan leader and his third uncle looked away with disappointment in their eyes. Li Xiandong could not help but feel relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.

Terrible.

Li Xiandong felt slightly uneasy about having his daughter subject to such scrutiny on his behalf.

Li Xiaohan didn't think so. In her previous life, she had reached a high position in the Medicine Forest Base at a young age. There were always so many people who thought she relied on other means rather than strength, and there were countless people who looked at her overtly and covertly.

The patriarch and the third uncle are just suspicious, not malicious, so it doesn't matter.

Even under the gaze of the third uncle and the patriarch, Li Xiaohan said hello obediently, asked Mr. Wang in the kitchen to boil hot water and serve tea, and reminded Li Xiandong to get stools for the patriarch and the third uncle to sit on.

A little girl arranged everyone in a safe and orderly manner.

The third uncle and the clan leader couldn't believe it anymore, so they had no choice but to admit it.

The patriarch took a sip of the farm tea in the coarse porcelain bowl and asked: "Xian Dong, I heard Xin and told you about the Eucommia tree. Let me first thank you for Xin and the others! But, as the patriarch, I want to ask What are your plans? Can you tell us?"

Although he was talking to Li Xiandong, his eyes were squinting at Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiandong had never been so valued by the clan leader. Hearing the clan leader thank him so solemnly, he was so excited that he wanted to sacrifice himself, but he couldn't say a lot of words.

It was Li Xiaohan who gave him a hand before he calmed down and said seriously: "Clan leader, I just thought that if everyone wants to learn, just follow us and the bark cut on the first day belongs to me. If you don't want to, just cut it yourself." also."

Li Xiaohan was quite speechless towards his father. It was obviously a good thing, but he said it so firmly.

However, this was not the first day that she knew what kind of character her father was. Li Xiaohan slowly added, "Clan leader, I still have to remind you that there is skill in cutting bark. If you cut it randomly, you may not be able to buy it at a good price. Instead, it's a waste of a good thing."

"Also, at the beginning of the month, I thought this Eucommia tree was fun, so I cut a piece of Eucommia bark on the common land of the clan to play with. Now the tree, where the skin was cut, looks like it has grown new skin."

"Trees in the wild cannot be kept. But if we plant eucommia trees in our tribe's forests and harvest them slowly, we will have harvests every year. Wouldn't it be better than killing chickens to get their eggs and depleting the lake for fishing?"

Why cut off a piece of skin to play with? That doesn't sound like the truth. A thoughtful person never does anything careless.

However, the fact that Eucommia ulmoides bark can regenerate is so surprising, no less than a hen that can continuously lay eggs. The third uncle and the patriarch's minds were frozen, and they all said: "Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course it's true. That tree grows on the common land of the clan. If the clan leader wants to see it, he can go and see it at any time. A few days ago, when we went to cut firewood, we saw that the tree was still growing well." Li Xiaohan affirmed.

"I'm so happy. This way, the children of the clan will have hope." The clan leader and the third uncle looked at each other and laughed loudly.

What happened to the children of the Guan clan?

Li Xiaohan frowned: Which aspect did he neglect to consider?

The third uncle looked around, especially at Li Xinhe who was squinting slightly, Li Deyou and Li Xiandong who were confused, and Li Xiaohan who was frowning and thinking. Fang said, "Clan leader, please tell everyone."

"Yes, third uncle."

"We, the Li family, moved here during the Jinghe period. During that time, there was war and famine. The government divided the land according to 10 acres of paddy field and 10 acres of dry land for each male. At that time, there were 39 males in our clan, and we were allotted land in total. There are 390 acres of paddy fields and 390 acres of dry fields."

"Then the world was at peace, and after less than two lifetimes of recuperation, the descendants multiplied, and our clan had 221 males. However, even though we worked hard to open up wasteland and continued to purchase, there were only 651 acres of paddy fields and 882 acres of dry fields. One male , less than 3 acres of paddy fields and less than 4 acres of dry fields."

Li Xiaohan's pupils shrank. The population was growing too fast and the supply of land, the most important production resource, was insufficient. It was impossible to feed the children.

This is still counting only men. Women are not divided into land, but women also need to eat.

The reason why family planning became a basic national policy for a period of time in previous lives is because after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the environment was peaceful and the population was growing rapidly. The resources at that time could not keep up, so birth control could only be done.

"You can't afford it, but you have to have children, unless you find another way." Li Xiaohan murmured.

However, there is no Grandpa Yuan Longping in this dynasty, and no one will say not to have so many children. At this time, population is wealth.

The third uncle and the clan leader looked at each other in surprise: There is such a pattern.

"Xiaohan is right. That's why he said that once Eucommia ulmoides can be cut and regenerated, the children of our tribe will have hope. Cutting the eucommia trees in the tribe slowly will be more cost-effective than that one-shot deal. After making money, we You can buy grain. I heard that the rice in the south can be grown twice a year, and I have a full warehouse of grain at home."

The clan leader smiled slightly after speaking, "Our clan also occupies the largest forest land of nearly 700 acres in the nearby villages as ancestral land. Other clans do not have as much as us. About half of it is allocated to the clan members for their own management, and there are Half of it will be managed by the clan. When the time comes, we will slowly plant Eucommia trees, which will always provide an additional income."

Li Xiandong, Li Deyou, Li Xinhe breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this. They felt that the land was getting harder and harder to buy, but when they heard that there was not enough land to feed their children, their hearts tightened.

Fortunately, fortunately, there are woodlands.

"If there are more of these things, the price will be cheaper." Li Xiaohan was not so optimistic.

"At least it can seize the opportunity of a generation. Doesn't it mean that only ten-year-old Eucommia trees can be used as medicine?"

The third uncle sighed, "Who can say for sure what will happen to the next generation? You go to Renhetang to sell medicine, but you know that Renhetang has been purchasing medicinal materials for more than ten years. I heard that the person behind Renhetang is General Zhang Zhen, who is in front of King Ding." Madam, I'm not afraid that Renhetang won't be able to take this medicinal material."

Li Xiaohan's pupils shrank, Ding Wang!

=== Chapter === 26

Li Xiaohan's pupils shrank, Ding Wang!

Although in the undergraduate essay, as a slightly contrasting supporting character in the early stage, my cousin Li Zhiyuan only appeared in the first dozen chapters, and there was basically no description in the later stage.

However, the life of the male protagonist will naturally not be peaceful and natural. The imperial examination and high school are nothing. In order to show that the male protagonist is talented, the book arranges the background of the emperor's change:

The male protagonist was admitted as a scholar during the reign of Emperor Jing of the present day;

Then the crown prince of Emperor Jing died. Emperor Jing did not appoint his son King Ding or Prince Ping as his successor, but instead established the prince's son as his grandson.

Three years later, Emperor Jing died, and his grandson ascended the throne, named Chengzheng. The male protagonist was an imperial examination candidate, Jinshi, and number one scholar in the first year of Chengzheng.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he won the first prize, Emperor Chengzheng ordered to eliminate the vassal kings, and King Ding and King Ping rebelled together.

In the end, King Ding defeated his brother, deposed his nephew Emperor Chengzheng, and became the new emperor, named Yongding.

At this time, it is very embarrassing and difficult for the male protagonist, the number one scholar in the Chengzheng period.

However, it is the difficult situation that highlights the hero's uniqueness. Relying on his talent, the male protagonist met Emperor Yongding by chance. From then on, a wise king met a good talent, and wrote a good story of a king and his ministers getting along well with each other.

As a female supporting character who doesn't even have a name in the book and is only briefly mentioned in the introduction of the male supporting character in the early stage, Li Xiaohan may never be related to the male protagonist. If I remember correctly, the male protagonist is still a primary school student in the next village. Following the difficult life of her widowed mother.

If he is an investor, Li Xiaohan should take the opportunity to get close to the male protagonist and repay his kindness to the male protagonist who is at a low point at this time.

However, at this moment, his own family is just a pauper who has been kicked out of his house. How can he be kind to the male protagonist?

And even if he gets rich, Li Xiaohan is not prepared to invest in the male protagonist.

This is a male video novel. If you invest in the male protagonist, it is easy to invest yourself in the back house. Seeing that the male protagonist will become famous in the future, and seeing that the male protagonist will be accompanied by beautiful women in the future, Li Xiaohan has no interest in becoming a member of the back house.

After seeing wild geese flying independently, how could I be willing to be locked in a cage and become a canary?

However, you can avoid the male protagonist of the plot, but you cannot ignore the larger background in the later period.

The emperor cuts off vassal vassals, vassal kings rebel, and the throne changes. The ups and downs hidden in them cannot be stopped by personal power.

In the majestic waves, people are like driftwood and can only drift with the current, not knowing where they are drifting.

In troubled times, people are worse than dogs. As a civilian, whether he can survive in such a war sometimes depends on luck.

And she, Li Xiaohan, wonders if her luck can be better?

"Xiaohan, what are you thinking about?"

Li Xiandong asked worriedly when he saw Li Xiaohan's expression changed drastically, and then he was in a daze for a long time and couldn't recover.

"It's nothing, I just didn't expect that Renhetang had such a big background." Li Xiaohan reluctantly explained.

This explanation convinced everyone. No matter how smart and precocious he was, he was only 13 years old after all, and had only seen so much of the world. Suddenly he heard that a medicine hall he had been to was related to a big shot. It was normal for him to not react for a while.

"It's just that, Patriarch, the temperature was quite pleasant in early September, but now it's almost October, and winter may be coming next. The weather is cold, and you may not be able to survive by harvesting bark." Li Xiaohan tried to calm down.

People cannot scare themselves to death because of the fear of the unknown. What they should do most is to live every minute of the moment and seize all nutrients to strengthen themselves, so that they can survive difficulties in the future.

Magnificent waves may wash away a lone tree, but they cannot destroy a continuous forest.

Li Xiaohan doesn't have any specific ideas about how to survive in the coming troubled times.

However, since the clan has successfully escaped in troubled times, it shows that the power of the clan in troubled times cannot be underestimated.

There is strength in numbers, sometimes that is the truth.

Instinctively, Li Xiaohan began to express himself and improve his influence and voice in the clan.

"That's the truth. I will send people to conduct experiments on the forest land in the clan in batches. The worst is that the trees will die, and we will harvest the bark of the whole tree." The clan leader said, and continued to ask, "I heard that you cut cuttings separately. Branches and seeds are collected to cultivate new saplings."

"Yes, I don't know if it can be done, but I have to give it a try." Li Xiaohan was referring to seed cultivation. He heard that the old lady Zhang had cut Eucommia ulmoides branches, but the survival rate was not high.

In fact, because the seeds of the Eucommia tree contain a certain amount of gum, there are certain tips for cultivating them. People in this era didn't know it, so they could only use cuttings.

"Okay. In that case, I will prohibit all clan members from privately teaching the related techniques of Eucommia trees. Everyone must come to learn and help for a day. What do you think?" the clan leader said.

Li Xiaohan and others naturally had no objection to this. It was expected that the clan leader and the third uncle had already discussed it before they came. Li Xiaohan and the others originally thought that this was the best outcome.

The group of people settled the matter while talking, and the rest was just to confirm the details one by one.

Mrs. Wang had been cooking in the kitchen earlier. After serving tea, she couldn't get a word in at all. She was afraid that the rice would be burnt, so she simply went back to the kitchen to work. Dinner is probably ready by now, and the aroma of food is wafting from the kitchen.

Seeing that Li Xiandong's family was about to eat, the patriarch stood up and said: "Okay, this matter is settled. Deyou, Xinhe, you go to Uncle Shengyi's house and Uncle Shengli's house to talk to me and my third uncle. It's decided. When other villagers ask them about the Eucommia tree, they are not allowed to say a word or teach them. They are told to come to Xiandong. There is no free lunch in this world."

"Yes, patriarch." Li Deyou and Li Xinhe responded.

"Third uncle, what else do you think there is?" the clan leader asked.

"It's nothing, let's go back." The third uncle stood up and turned to leave with his cane in hand.

Li Xiaohan pushed Li Xiandong, and Li Xiandong quickly stepped forward, "Third uncle, clan leader, please stay and have a meal together."

"No," the clan leader said, "I have to arrange the Eucommia trees on the clan's common land when I get back. Xiandong, I'll have a drink with you next time."

The patriarch is on business, but the third uncle is not, but he waved his hand and said, "I'm older, so I eat early and go to bed early. I've already eaten, let's do it next time."

When the two elders said this, Li Xiandong did not dare to persist anymore and could only send the patriarch and his third uncle to the door.

When both of them disappeared, Li Xiaohan turned back to the kitchen and said, "Mom, is dinner ready? I'm hungry."

After a busy day during the day, a battle of wits and courage with two old men at night, and being shocked by the plot, Li Xiaohan felt that he could eat a cow.

People are like iron rice and steel. If they don't eat one meal, they will be hungry. It's a big deal, let's have a full meal first and then talk about it.

Only when you have a full meal can you have the energy to think about other things.

=== Chapter === 27

Li Deyou and Li Xinhe have rushed to Li Shengyi's house and Li Shengli's house respectively.

Li Shengyi's family rarely lit up the oil lamp. As a family, the man was sharpening his knife and the woman was packing her backpack. Like a fire, they are all fierce and ready to fight.

Li Deyou told the patriarch's instructions: not to reveal anything about the Eucommia tree to others.

Li Shengyi, who is the master of the house, replied simply and neatly, "Okay, virtue is there, we understand, you can go back! I am busy today, so I won't keep you here."

"Yes." Li Deyou took a walk without any difficulty. As soon as he reached the threshold, he turned around and went back.

The men of the Li family had no objection to Li Shengyi's decision, but the daughters-in-law of the Li family had complicated expressions. They all had natal families. But under the orders of the patriarch, the old man of the family has the say, and the women have no say.

Compared with Li Deyou who saw Li Guiqian's family in high spirits and working together to make money tomorrow, the atmosphere of Li Xin and Li Shengli's family who went to inform them was too dull.

Although Li Xiannan was sharpening his knife and the women at home were packing their backpacks, the atmosphere was not entirely cheerful, but vaguely strange and awkward.

But no matter how strange it was, Li Xinhe would not say it out loud. He only directly and clearly stated the instructions of the clan leader and third uncle. Anyway, no one could ask. If he had any objections, he could go to the clan leader.

As soon as Li Xinhe finished speaking, Li Xiannan's eyes suddenly lit up: He had been thinking about it for most of the day, and the more he thought about it, the more desperate he became.

There was not a single Eucommia tree in their forest because his mother didn't like it.

According to her mother, it neither blooms nor bears fruit, and has a strange smell. It is not as dense as pines and cypresses, so it can only be used as firewood.

At that time, they all thought, it's just a kind of tree, just cut it down, why bother to make your mother unhappy?

In fact, Li Xiannan vaguely knew that his mother didn't like this kind of tree because his father's first wife, Luo Shi, liked the smell of this kind of tree very much. Back then, his father planted a lot of trees in the forest, but later his mother found various reasons to cut them down and burn them.

But...but, who would have thought that this kind of tree could turn over and be worth a lot of money.

As unhappy as he was at the time, he regrets it now: once the trees in his father's forest have grown up, they are now thirty or forty years old. One tree can peel off at least two ounces of bark.

A tree costs two pennies.

Therefore, when Li Xiannan came home and told the news, the Li family's old house fell into silence: the competition between Chen and Luo, Chen's dislike of the Eucommia tree, she really didn't even like it when it was cut down and used as firewood.

After all, it can't be compared.

At that moment, everyone more or less suddenly came up with this idea.

But no one dared to say it.

Therefore, when Li Xinhe came, the atmosphere in the Li family was so strange.

After Li Xinhe told the clan leader's decision, Li Xiannan was the first to react: In this way, his family would be one step ahead of other villagers and could harvest more Eucommia trees first.

"Dad, if others know it too late, we can harvest more Eucommia ulmoides first." Li Xiannan said with joy.

Li Shengli's face finally showed a little joy, "Well, our whole family must seize this opportunity as soon as possible. Tomorrow, one by one, we will all go up the mountain to find the Eucommia tree and cut the bark."

After saying that, Li Shengli looked around and then changed his words, "Mr. Ye, you are pregnant, so you stay at home to do housework. And Cai Rong, it is inconvenient for you and Zhu Xiucai to ask for leave, so you don't have to."

"Yes, Grandpa."

"Yes, Dad."

Ye and Li Cairong responded together.

Only then did Chen come back to his senses.

No, we can't let Li Shengli blame himself for this.

Mrs. Chen lowered her head and said with a sad look on her face, "Xiannan, Xianxi, it's my mother who's sorry for you, but it's me who's sorry for you, the head of the family."

"I know that I am the stepmother, and I am inherently inferior to my sister. When I go underground, I bring tea and water to my sister, and I serve her. I just... I just want to spend these decades in this world, I just want to I want these decades in this world to belong to me."

"I'm just too greedy and crazy. I just want us to be father and mother. Our children will not be inferior to others just because I am a step-in-law."

"Master, I'm sorry for you. I just thought, I just thought that a hundred years later, when we go underground, you and Sister Luo will be the original couple. My heart feels like it has been cut out."

"I'm sorry for everyone, the head of the family, I'm sorry for you. When I went underground, I kowtowed to Sister Luo and confessed. I will serve her like a cow in the next life. It's all my fault. It's all my fault."

The more Ms. Chen talked about it, the sadder she became, making Li Shengli cry helplessly.

Li Shengli had almost forgotten what Luo Shi looked like. I just remember that Luo Shi brought her own dowry when she got married, and she had a very bad temper. She always had arguments with him, and would complain to his parents, which made Li Shengli feel that he had no face at all.

If Li Shengli was asked to choose by himself, he would also choose Chen. Chen has a good temper. Although she has some small ideas of her own, she always puts herself first in everything.

Men are women's gods, and this is right. Chen is like this because he values himself too much. Thinking of this, the anger in Li Shengli's heart also dissipated.

"Forget it, get up, we have been husband and wife for half our lives, and I still don't know you."

So, the matter ended like this. Mrs. Chen stood up holding Li Xiannan's hand and said with tears, "Master, I will bring you water to wash your feet."

"Yes." Li Shengli waved his hands and entered the room.

Only the wives of Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi were left, biting their gums secretly: they were obviously wives, but they still acted like concubines. The mother-in-law is like this, she married in, she doesn't even have the status to speak loudly, let alone win a man's favor. Living is such a frustrating experience.

Just letting the two of them bite their gums, this is what this family is like. Especially the men of the Li family, one or two, from old to young, all eat this. what else can we do.

Li Xiandong's family didn't know about the struggle in the old house, and even if they knew, they probably wouldn't be happy.

What does it have to do with them? Isn't it nice to make money?

It smells great, but I'm a little tired. The three of them have just finished eating. The fatigue of the day has been dissipated by food and clothing, and they don't want to move.

No, this won't work. Li Xiaohan got excited and said, "Dad, we are going to clean out a batch of Eucommia bark tonight and soak it in salt water. In this way, we can try to prepare Eucommia bark by tomorrow evening and make it the next morning. You can go to the medical center and ask if the preparation is okay."

"If possible, we would not sell fresh eucommia bark. We would process all the dried bark and make more money. And the dry bark can be processed slowly, so you don't have to run to the city every day. The time saved can be used to go to the mountains. Cutting the bark of Eucommia ulmoides. We have a small family, so we can arrange this work well."

"If not, our family has only wasted two days of effort, and the fresh eucommia bark has not lost a lot of weight."

Li Xiandong thinks about it, this is the truth.

So, Mrs. Wang went to clean up the dishes and prepare tomorrow's brunch, while Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan poured water and cleaned the eucommia bark. Fortunately, there was still half of the water in the water tank, otherwise Li Xiandong would have had to go to the village public well in the dark to fetch water. However, without a well at home, it is not that convenient after all.

After the water was poured, Li Xiandong faced the basket of eucommia peels with no idea at all. He tried his best to recall the treatment method taught by Master Shi of Renhetang. He held the eucommia peels in his hand, but he didn't know which step to take first and couldn't start.

Li Xiaohan, on the other hand, picked up the bark of Eucommia ulmoides, looked at it, threw away the rag his father gave him, and went to the tool room to get a hatchet. He disliked the weight of the hatchet, so he went to the kitchen to get two kitchen knives and two straws. Then he sat down in front of the basin, brushing and getting ready to dry.

"Dad, look at me." Li Xiaohan is small, his voice is clear, but his whole image is very reliable.

I saw her first using a kitchen knife to peel off the thick old skin on the outside; then she picked up a straw broom, instead of using the soft end, she used the thick end of the pole to clean all the gaps in the Eucommia bark; then, she cleaned the entire piece Cut the eucommia bark into uniform sizes and soak it...

Li Xiandong looked at his daughter's smooth operation and couldn't come to his senses: He didn't dare to do it yet, so why did his daughter do it so well?

"Dad, look, don't be afraid. If you do something wrong, you will treat it as tuition to learn a craft. Think about it, this Eucommia bark was cut back from the mountains without spending a penny. It's a waste of what we have." Well, if we succeed, we can make more money."

Li Xiaohan can always talk to his father's heart. Anyway, it's free and doesn't cost anything.

Li Xiandong thought about it, this was the truth, nodded firmly, calmed down and started working. Later, Wang, who had finished her kitchen work, joined them.

The family are all good at work. When the moon came over the branches, they finally washed and soaked this part of the Eucommia bark and fell asleep peacefully.

The moon was at the top of the sky, and then set again. The night gradually faded, and a red sun slowly rose from the east.

=== Chapter === 28

Faintly hearing the crow of chickens in the village, Li Xiaohan woke up in a daze and heard the sound of people walking outside the window.

When she opened the door, she saw that Mrs. Wang was busy in the kitchen, and Li Xiandong was moving the unprocessed part of the eucommia bark that was cut yesterday to the porch.

"Xiaohan, you're awake. Go wash up. Your mother is about to cook breakfast."

"Oh, Dad, what are you doing?" Li Xiaohan rubbed his eyes.

"I moved these barks to the porch because I was afraid it would rain or be exposed to the sun," Li Xiandong said.

It's perfect under the front porch, it's airy and breathable, and you don't have to worry about rain or the sun. No wonder people in the city build houses like this.

"Dad, you are so considerate." Li Xiaohan praised her father vigorously. Her father had been suppressed for too long and had lost his confidence.

In fact, Li Shengli has grown older in the past few years, and Li Xiandong is responsible for all matters in the family. Unfortunately, this meticulousness and thoughtfulness have not been seen by others.

I hope my grandfather will not regret it after the separation.

The autumn morning was already chilly, but Li Xiandong smiled and continued to carefully arrange the bark of Eucommia ulmoides. In the kitchen, Wang was making breakfast and occasionally pots and pans clinked together, and the sweet fragrance of food wafted through the air. Li Xiaohan suddenly felt very sad. Warm, wrap up your clothes tightly, and quickly go to the corner to wash up.

After washing up, Wang's breakfast was already ready. Therefore, since we were going up the mountain today, we couldn't make some watery porridge for breakfast, so Wang made real noodles with meat.

This year's wheat was ground into flour, and the fried pork belly was chopped into pieces and sandwiched between pancakes. The surface was seared at high temperature until the surface was brown, giving off the aroma of wheat, and the rich fat soaked out from the inside.

Just holding this kind of pancake will whet your appetite. When you take a bite, the aroma of meat and wheat fills your mouth.

"Mom, let me tell you that it will be convenient and delicious if you make pancakes like this."

Mrs. Wang looked at the two father and daughter eating deliciously with a smile, and her voice was full of fireworks. "If you like it, mom will cook it for you. What else do you want to eat? Tell me."

"I also want to eat another egg-mash soup, with chopped green vegetables and shiitake mushrooms in it. The eggs should slide in at the end and come out soft and tender." Li Xiaohan said vaguely while eating the cake.

"Okay, I'll do it for you tomorrow." It's just a soup made of egg paste, but Wang now feels that this is no problem. She still looks like she can't even boil lard a few months ago.

After breakfast, I took the extra noodles I made for lunch, picked up my backpack and went out.

Because Li Xinhe and others no longer need to help today, and other villagers do not know the situation of Eucommia ulmoides, there are only three people this time, like ants slowly entering the forest.

The busy day passed very quickly. As the sun gradually set, Li Xiandong and his family went down the mountain with their backpacks on their backs. On this day, they found two Eucommia trees.

When they got home, Mrs. Wang was preparing to cook. Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong didn't stop either. They took out the eucommia bark that had been soaked in salt water for a day, drained it, and prepared to fry the shreds.

Needless to say, the person in charge of the operation is Li Xiaohan again.

"Dad, fire, lower the fire. Let's take our time. It won't be good if it gets burnt."

"Dad, it doesn't have to be so small. It should be bigger. I can't feel the heat when I put my hand in the pot."

Li Xiandong was sweating profusely, and he didn't know whether it was from heat or urgency. After a long while, Li Xiandong said cruelly, "Mother, come here, I'll cook."

"Ah." Mrs. Wang was also anxious when she saw the fire Li Xiandong was burning. However, in the Li family, no man had ever cooked. If this man cooks, the mother-in-law will be blamed to death.

Wang didn't dare.

Seeing Wang's hesitation, Li Xiandong naturally understood what Wang was taboo about. However, he had been said to be childless for so many years, and there was nothing more. Moreover, "There are only three of us in the family. If we don't tell, who knows. But. , if the Eucommia ulmoides does not work well, it will be scrapped, and it will be all money."

Mrs. Wang was pushed to the stove in a daze, and Li Xiaohan also persuaded her, "Mom, I need to make the fire a little more steady. I can't control dad, who is so big and small. You can light the fire."

It doesn't matter if a man can cook. In a previous life, it was a plus point that a man could cook. Most of the chefs were men.

As for the question of whether Li Xiandong could eat the rice he cooked: they ate brown rice porridge at night. After working all day, they were very thirsty, so Wang washed the brown rice, added water, and prepared to cook porridge. The dish is to prepare steamed eggplant and steamed meat on the porridge.

At this time, he didn't care whether it tasted good or not. Li Xiandong was still good at steaming things. Besides, Mrs. Wang was still beside him, just giving instructions while lighting the fire.

Sure enough, it would be much better if Wang was the one to light the fire. Wang was a good hand at making fire. Li Xiaohan only had to worry about the frying of Eucommia ulmoides in the pot, and did not have to worry about the intensity of the fire...

"Uncle Xiandong, Uncle Xiandong, I called you for a long time, but no one answered. I saw that the door was unlocked, so I pushed the door open and came in. Uncle, my father..."

Li Xinhe opened the door and saw Li Xiandong cutting meat...

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

This can't be said for sure. Just when he said that no one else knew, Li Xinhe immediately broke it.

In the end, it was Li Xiaohan who came to his senses first, "Brother Xinhe, what do you want to do with my father?"

"Oh, well, my dad said, Uncle Xiandong, are you going to the city to sell Eucommia ulmoides tomorrow? My family is driving the cattle cart, do you want to come with us?"

Today, Li Xinhe and his family also harvested the skins of two Eucommia trees. Since the patriarch's family has an ox cart, they don't need to carry it into the city. Only Li Xiandong in the clan has sold Eucommia bark, and the others are a little unsure.

"Then let's meet together tomorrow morning. Thank you Xin He. We are busy, so we won't greet you." There is no doubt that this is Li Xiaohan speaking.

Her calm attitude made everyone suddenly feel that this was not a big deal. It was others who made the fuss.

"Hey, you guys are busy, I'm going back." Li Xinhe exited and closed the door of Li Xiandong's house.

Only halfway through did I remember that I was momentarily stunned by what Li Xiandong was cooking. What was fried in the Li family's pot was Eucommia ulmoides, and the one cooking the spoon was Li Xiaohan.

Uncle Xiandong's house seemed a bit chaotic. Li Xinhe frowned slightly, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed acceptable.

Uncle Xiandong's family has a small population, so he doesn't have to do everything. It's just a kitchen. The book also says that governing a big country is like cooking small dishes.

Li Xinhe convinced himself. Of course, what he saw today, he just pretended not to see it.

In Li's house, after Li Xinhe left, Li Xiandong immediately closed the door tightly, making the door jam really tight.

"Mom, fire, fire, pay attention to my fire."

"Dad, don't worry, Brother Xinhe is a trustworthy person and won't talk nonsense."

"Yes, Xin and his nephew are good people who can be trusted and will not tell anyone." Li Xiandong and Wang murmured to themselves at the same time, as if this would confirm this fact more.

Then, Mrs. Wang lowered her head to light the fire, while Li Xiandong continued to cut the meat in a daze.

…

About a quarter of an hour later, "Mom, okay, give me a dustpan."

Mrs. Wang hurriedly handed Li Xiaohan a dustpan, and Li Xiaohan took out the pieces of Eucommia ulmoides from the pot. The three of them didn't care about anything else and hurriedly gathered around to take a closer look. Li Xiaohan also took out the dried Eucommia ulmoides peels he bought before to compare.

"Dad, Mom, is it okay if I look at it?"

"Oh, it looks similar." The two nodded frequently.

"Mom, let's clean the pot before we continue."

"Why."

…

In the end, Li Xiaohan's hands were tired from frying. Wang didn't dare to fry, and Li Xiandong didn't dare either. They could only take a break after dinner, and Li Xiaohan continued to fry.

"Father, mother, please wake me up tomorrow. I'm afraid I won't be able to get up when I get up early tomorrow." After washing up, Li Xiaohan said to Li Xiandong and Wang before entering the room.

"Hey, go ahead, don't worry, I'll call you." Mrs. Wang said with distress when she saw how tired Li Xiaohan looked.

After receiving the guarantee, Li Xiaohan went back to his room and lay down on the kang. He closed his eyes and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

The sky is bright.

From the second main room to the east of Li Xiandong's house, there was a knock on the door, accompanied by a soft voice, "Xiaohan, Xiaohan, get up, get up."

"Hey, mother, I'll get up." Li Xiaohan responded. After all, he had a young body, and after a nap, his energy came back immediately.

Even when he moved, his arms were still too sore. Li Xiaohan grinned, got dressed and opened the door.

"Go and wash up and come over for breakfast. You and your father will arrive at the entrance of the village later, and the village chief's bullock cart will take you into the city."

"Mom, aren't you going?"

"Your father will go with you. I'll go to the forest to boil some water for the Panax notoginseng seedlings. I've been cutting Eucommia ulmoides for the past few days, but I haven't done any cooking. I have to go take a look. After watering, I'll go take a look at the closer ones. If there are any Eucommia trees in the forest, I'll go first and you can join me when you come back."

While Wang was talking, she quickly put breakfast on the table.

Li Xiandong had already put the dried eucommia bark fried last night into a sack, and then put other fresh eucommia bark that had not yet been fried into a load. Today they will bring the fried eucommia bark and fresh eucommia bark to the city today.

"All right."

After washing up, the three of them had breakfast. Li Xiaohan carried the sack of dried Eucommia bark, while Wang and Li Xiandong shouldered the burden. Although it was a bit showy, the Li family had accumulated a lot of Eucommia bark in the past few days, and Eucommia bark cannot be squeezed hard, so several people can only carry it together.

At this point, the eucommia tree that was cut down to make furniture at home was not peeled off. There is no way, there are not enough people, so we have to rush to the mountains to cut the bark of the Eucommia trees.

The Li family of three were afraid that they would have to explain themselves to others, so they simply took the back road.

This was a good plan, but when we arrived at the village entrance, we found that a large number of people had gathered near the ox cart: there were already people coming and going at the entrance of the village, and then the village chief's ox cart was still parked there, with a bunch of ox carts conspicuously mounted on it. bark.

"Come on, Xiandong is here. I've made room for you." Li Guiqian greeted, "Xiaohan, put your backpack in the car."

"We're late." Li Xiandong was a little embarrassed, Wang's face turned red, but Li Xiaohan didn't care, because everyone had come early.

"No, it's because everyone was anxious and got up early. Plus there are few people in your family." Li Guiqian said nonchalantly.

Yes, Uncle Xiandong's family is small, so he cooks the stove by himself.

Li Xinhe, who was driving the bullock cart, said to himself, his face looking calm and composed.

The tree bark takes up space and is conspicuous. The villagers watching nearby were whispering to each other, and some people were shouting loudly, "Chief, please tell me what is going on."

"What's the hurry! I'm here." The clan leader yelled loudly, then turned to Li Xinhe and said, "Okay, you go, I'm here."

Li Xinhe waved his whip, and the ox cart started slowly, leaving the clan leader to say to the onlookers, "Okay, come with me to the ancestral hall."

Li Xiaohan and others followed the bullock cart forward, with suppressed excitement in everyone's eyes. At this time, no one spoke. Everyone was thinking about whether Eucommia ulmoides could be sold for money, and they couldn't wait to get to Renhetang in the city immediately.

The road is very close yet very far.

=== Chapter === 29

They left early and there were oxcarts on the way. When the Li family arrived at Renhetang, Renhetang had just opened its doors.

Several people unloaded the eucommia skins from the ox cart. Since only one person from the patriarch's family came, Li Xinhe, Li Guiqian ordered, "Jia Yin, help your brother Xinhe drive the ox cart to the open space, don't block the medical center." door."

"Hey, Dad." Li Jiayin responded readily, and he was the most suitable person here.

Everyone was still worried about whether it would be possible to carry loads of bark into the medicine hall. Li Xiandong stepped into the lobby of the medicine hall first at everyone's signal.

"Shopkeeper, we are here again." Li Xiaohan opened his smile and said, "This time we brought fried dried eucommia and fresh eucommia peel. Please tell me the story."

Sure enough, the shopkeeper still remembered Li Xiaohan, who had been here before. When he saw a group of them, carrying baskets and carrying baskets, almost blocking the door of Renhe Hall, he said, "Come in."

Everyone followed into the backyard. The group looked at Li Xiandong, and Li Xiandong looked at Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan stepped forward and poured the prepared eucommia bark in the sack onto the dustpan brought by the waiter.

The shopkeeper called Lao Shi, who was preparing the medicinal ingredients, and together they pushed aside the bark of Eucommia bark with their hands and carefully observed whether the bark of Eucommia bark had been processed cleanly. Then they picked up a few pieces at random, put them in their mouths and chewed them carefully. Is this cooking hot enough?

Everyone in the Li family looked at the shopkeeper's actions and knew that it was true that the eucommia bark could be sold for money, and their hearts dropped.

However, people's hearts are not satisfied. I originally thought that it would be enough to make a penny by selling it, but now I am thinking that it would be best if I can make it successfully. This will not only make more money, but also make more money. A craft.

Everyone's hearts rose and fell with the performance of the shopkeeper and Master Lao Shi. With a nod, everyone's hearts relaxed slightly, and with a frown, everyone's hearts tightened again.

Even Li Xiaohan couldn't help but feel uneasy. Although she had confidence in herself, her confidence had to be affirmed by the person who gave her money.

"This bag must have been fried in the first pot, and the heat has passed. As for the medicinal materials, it is fine if it is good, but it is not good if it is not good. We can't have it." The shopkeeper said seriously.

Everyone was in an uproar and felt sad. Sure enough, the peasant family couldn't eat this bowl of rice.

As long as Li Xiaohan thought about it carefully, maybe he couldn't control the heat well when he first started. In addition, Li Xinhe came in later and startled Wang, which might have affected him.

It's just that the first failure was mentioned alone, but what about the others.

Li Xiaohan looked at the shopkeeper, and sure enough, the shopkeeper continued, "We have collected the rest. The quality of this eucommia tree is particularly good. You can pay 140 cents for a pound of dry skin."

As soon as these words came out, everyone's hearts dropped to the bottom and immediately flew up. Oh my God, 140 yuan per pound, everyone couldn't believe it.

Li Xiaohan laughed, it was done, it was not in vain that her arms were so tired.

"Come here, weigh these. Do you still sell fresh eucommia bark?"

It is normal for the shopkeeper to ask this question. Although this group of people picked all the fresh eucommia peels, the price difference between the fresh eucommia peels and the processed eucommia peels is very different, and these people came together.

"Thank you, shopkeeper. Dad, put away all the fresh eucommia bark. Let's pick it back and come over after it's cooked." Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

Two kilograms of fresh Eucommia bark can produce about one kilogram of dry skin. The total price of two kilograms of fresh skin is 80 Wen, and one kilogram of dry skin is 140 Wen. There is a price difference of almost 60 Wen.

Although there are still costs such as green salt, firewood, and labor, this dynasty was still in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The officials governed the Qingming Festival, and the price of salt was not expensive, and ordinary people could eat salt.

As for labor and firewood... forget it, who makes his family so poor that he still has plenty of money to spend. Even if Li Xiaohan breaks his hands due to fatigue, he still has to earn this money into his pocket.

Li Xiandong's fresh eucommia bark was no longer for sale, so the other Li clan members were hesitant.

Li Shengli looked at his happy eldest son with mixed emotions in his heart. However, outside, Li Shengli could only suppress his cry, "Xiandong..."

"Dad, grandpa is calling you." Li Xiaohan immediately turned around. Fearing that her father would help her bear all the eucommia bark in the old house, Li Xiaohan said with a smile first, "Grandpa, look at my empty house and home. There are few people and little land. Now that we finally have a way to make money, I am not relieved. You must be happy for my father."

"Grandpa, don't worry. Now the shopkeeper says that the eucommia bark I prepared is good. You can ask your aunt and grandmother to come to my house and learn how to fry eucommia bark. I am the only one in my family who knows how to cook eucommia bark. When the aunts learn how to cook eucommia bark, You can also sell dried eucommia bark directly."

The eldest son's family is in such a difficult situation, so it would be very unkind for Li Shengli to ask Li Xiaohan to help fry the bark of Eucommia ulmoides. In addition, Li Xiaohan is willing to teach the frying method of Eucommia bark, which makes sense to everyone who listens to it.

Li Xiandong didn't have the taste to understand the implication at all. He smiled and agreed: "Yes, dad, our Xiaohan is smart. He only heard the people from the medicine hall say it once and figured it out. You ask your mother and younger siblings to come with Xiaohan. Let's learn, this process of preparing Eucommia bark is actually a skill on the stove."

I could only hear the corners of Master Shi's mouth twitching slightly. What is kung fu on the stove? It's the heat for preparing medicinal materials.

"Also uncles from the clan, aunts and sisters-in-law at home should also come together. I was just thinking about it. If you can trust me, then come together. We are all clan members, and we are of the same mind." Li Xiaohan said to Li Guiqian, Li Xinhe and others. Said with a smile.

Teaching one or two people is teaching, and teaching a group is also teaching. She, Li Xiaohan, didn't have to pay for the extra money, so she was happy to do it.

The Li clan members are scratching their heads over not being able to earn this part of the price difference, but after all, Li Shengli is Li Xiandong's biological father. Li Shengli hasn't been settled yet, so the clan members have no shame to speak first.

Now that Li Xiaohan opened his mouth to teach everyone, he must have agreed immediately, and he was extremely grateful.

Only Li Shengli was slightly dissatisfied with this. He, his biological father and grandfather, was no different from other clan members.

But considering that the eldest son's family is really small, and now the clan members are looking to Li Xiandong's family, asking Chen and others to come and learn from them is the best way at the moment.

At worst, she would be like Li Xiaohan's granddaughter, who would ruin the whole pot.

Thinking of this, Li Shengli nodded and said, "Okay, that's exactly what it should be."

"Then are you still selling your fresh eucommia peels?" the shopkeeper asked, "I remind you that there is a lot of rain in autumn, so your fresh eucommia peels must be kept well. If they grow mold after being exposed to the rain and then fried, then It has lost its efficacy and we will not accept it."

In order to prevent these ignorant farmers from selling unqualified medicinal materials to Renhetang and ruining the reputation of Renhetang, the shopkeeper first warned them.

"This..." As soon as these words came out, the hearts of everyone in the Li family tightened. The shopkeeper was telling the truth. If the mother-in-law in the family couldn't learn it in three to five days, and if it rained again, the money she was about to get would be wasted.

At that time, people always liked to play it safe and paid attention to safety in their pockets, so everyone hesitated.

"Xinhe, you have a good mind, can you tell everyone about it?" Li Guiqian asked in a low voice.

"If you are really worried, why don't you sell today's fresh eucommia peels first, and then go home, the men continue to go up the mountain, and the women go to Uncle Xiandong's house to learn from Xiaohan. I estimate that you can learn it in a day or two, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow Then you can concoct it yourself. Although the money is a little less, it is safe. The future matters will depend on whether it can be concocted. "

"Yes, that's the truth." The other members of the Li clan nodded.

So, except for Li Xiandong's family, everyone else sold all the fresh eucommia bark.

Li Xiandong's family sold 21 kilograms of dried leather and received a total of 2,940 copper coins. After excluding losses, the copper coins were converted into silver ingots. The pharmacy gave them 2 taels of broken silver and 360 copper plates.

The rest of the tribe bought fresh leather. Li Shengli's family got the least, more than one tael, and Li Guiqian's family got the most, more than 2 liang.

After leaving the medicine hall, the Li clan members were still in a daze.

This is just a day's work. In the past, I worked on the fields non-stop all year round, and all that was left was just a few pennies. That's all, I still have to rely on a good year and a farm at home to take care of. For those families with little land, their stomachs are full all year round.

Nowadays, it takes half a year just to go up the mountain and cut the bark. This is still a piece of silver.

Why is this money so easy to come by? It seemed like it fell from the sky.

Thinking of this, everyone became even more excited and wanted to go home immediately. They immediately went up the mountain and cut down all the Eucommia ulmoides in the mountain. Eucommia ulmoides in the wild doesn't just belong to whoever grabs it first.

Everyone's desire to make money was so obvious that Li Xiaohan had to remind everyone, "Dad, we have to buy some green salt first. There is almost no green salt at home. Also, uncles and grandfathers, my pot is a new one. But I had to wash it several times before I dared to use it to fry Eucommia bark. No one can guarantee whether a pot that has been used for a long time can fry medicinal materials."

"Yes, the pot at home has been used for a long time, and it smells like oil and is not suitable. So let's buy a new pot." Li Xinhe said.

Everyone agreed. They had just sold the fresh eucommia bark, and everyone had money in their hands. Buying green salt and buying an iron pot was unambiguous. Even if they couldn't fry it, they still got an iron pot for free, which was a valuable item.

Everyone hurried to the grocery store and the blacksmith shop, and bought a lot of green salt and iron pots. Li Xiaohan also bought a few new wooden basins and dustpans. When everyone heard, this was for soaking Eucommia bark and drying Eucommia ulmoides. They all bought the skins they needed, and the grocery store made several deals at once.

After finishing the hurried shopping, everyone hurried back. They were very different from the past when they were shopping around, hesitating, and trying to bargain for three or two cents, which shocked the blacksmith shop and the grocery store.

At this time, the clan leader had also told other clan members who were watching about the sale of Eucommia bark for money.

Everyone was in shock and doubt, waiting for Li Xiandong and others to come back to see if the medicine hall had really purchased so many Eucommia barks?

How much does it cost?

When did you receive it?

The impatient clan members craned their necks to wait anxiously for Li Xiandong and others at the clan leader's house.

The smart one left one person here waiting for news, while the others quietly went home and polished their woodchopping knives.

All is ready except for the opportunity.

=== Chapter === 30

"They're back, they're back."

The onlookers saw Patriarch Li's bullock cart entering the village. For a moment, the crowd was furious and depressed. They were afraid that they would not be able to earn the money, and they were afraid that if the voice was too loud, too many people would steal the money.

But there were still fresh eucommia skins on the oxcart, and everyone felt a little nervous. Could it be that they couldn't sell them?

But in comparison, everyone else's burden is empty. Moreover, there were 4 or 5 large iron pots placed on the oxcart, and the joy on the faces of everyone beside the oxcart could not be suppressed.

What is going on? It looks like it can be sold for money, but I still have some concerns.

"Go to the ancestral hall. The clan leader and third uncle are both there."

The crowd pushed Li Xiandong and his party to the ancestral hall. They didn't even have the time to go home and put down the iron pot.

"Grandfather, patriarch, we are back." Li Deyou was the first to speak.

"Tell me, tell me, you have virtue, don't talk nonsense, what do you think?" Someone from the crowd who was familiar with Li De shouted.

The third uncle glared at his grandson, who was old but had no memory, and said, "Why are you so anxious? Xiandong, your family was the first to discover this Eucommia tree. Tell me what happened."

Everyone's eyes suddenly focused on Li Xiandong.

Since the separation of the family, this is the second time that Li Xiandong has been treated like the center of attention. The first time was when he moved into his new house, with everyone's envious eyes, and the second time is now, with everyone's expectant eyes.

With pride and panic, he glanced at Li Xiaohan first. Li Xiaohan didn't say anything, and his third uncle in front was still staring at him. In less than a minute of tea, Li Xiandong felt that his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

After a while, Li Xiandong plucked up the courage to speak, "Third uncle, patriarch, this Eucommia tree was discovered by my Xiaohan accidentally. This time I went to Renhetang, and the fresh Eucommia skin sold for 40 Wen per pound, and it was prepared. The bark of Eucommia ulmoides sold for 140 yuan per catty."

As soon as these words came out, it was like a thunderbolt was thrown into the crowd, and everyone was stunned.

"Be quiet." The clan leader maintained order and asked what everyone wanted to say the most, "Xiandong, what happened to the prepared Eucommia bark? Tell everyone."

Speaking of this, Li Xiandong's face was filled with pride, "Chief, the doctor at the medicine hall told us about this preparation of Eucommia bark when we went to the medicine hall last time. At that time, I thought it was not possible. We are not the ones who eat this bowl of rice. But Xiaohan, this child, is brave, careful, and skillful. She figured it out by herself according to the instructions of the doctor in the medicine hall."

At first, everyone thought that what Li Xiandong said, "My Xiaohan discovered it by accident" was nonsense. At this moment, they looked squarely at Li Xiaohan, who had been standing aside.

Li Xiaohan didn't care about everyone's glances, but her father still seemed to be unable to grasp the point of what he was talking about, so he could only signal her father to continue speaking.

Helplessly, Li Xiandong thought he had finished speaking, and stopped here for a moment.

Li Xiaohan, who originally wanted to cultivate her father's eloquence as much as possible, could only continue to explain, "After my family's experiments, two pounds of fresh Eucommia bark can probably be used to make one pound of dried Eucommia bark. According to our today's price, we can earn more." 60 cents. However, the final price depends on the quality of the processed Eucommia bark, and Eucommia bark of different qualities is different."

"It takes an Eucommia tree that is more than ten years old to be used as medicine. One tree can cut about 40 kilograms of fresh bark and process 20 kilograms of dried bark. That adds up to an extra 1,200 yuan. Excluding the cost of green salt, the cost of Manpower, firewood, and eucommia bark that may have been over-fried. Overall, this deal is still a good deal, so my family picked out the fresh eucommia bark, cooked it, and sold it."

Everyone was so shocked by this detailed and detailed data that they were speechless for a moment.

1,200 yuan! !

Excluding the fire consumption, this difference can be replaced by one tael of silver.

Li Xiaohan, this girl, can really make money!

Everyone's eyes turned to Li Xiaohan, passionate and eager.

With such a huge profit, the patriarch and the third uncle couldn't sit still, "Ahem, Xiaohan..."

The clan leader felt guilty. He was not sure that the preparation of Eucommia ulmoides would be successful the night before, and he did not expect that the price difference would be so big, so he did not discuss this item in detail.

Now, the patriarch himself teaches everyone this exclusive craft, and his heart aches.

However, for the benefit of the clan leader, the clan leader hoped that Li Xiaohan could teach everyone... The clan leader's old face turned red.

"Clan leader, I understand. We are all members of the Li clan. You can ask each family to send an aunt to learn from me. I will teach you together. I can't guarantee whether I can learn it. After all, I am young and have nothing to do with the stove. The effort is not yet in place."

Li Xiaohan had no intention of hiding it.

First, the medicine hall obviously wants to spread this method. If it can teach her, it can naturally teach other people. It's just fast or slow. There are always many smart people.

Second, since this is a world where clans have a strong voice, this craft is not like the eucommia trees in the mountains. If you have more, I will have less. That being the case, why doesn't she be a good person and gain a better image in the clan?

Li Xiaohan was able to understand this truth so quickly because she was influenced by the thinking of her previous life. In that era, there was an explosion of information. Whatever you wanted to learn, there were various tutorials on the Internet. Unlike now, women are very happy to learn how to fry small fish to improve their lives.

Knowledge can only be passed on better if it is continuously passed on. It was the biggest gift given to Li Xiaohan in that era.

"Xiaohan, good, good boy." The patriarch said excitedly. Although this craft can only be learned by women, who made it possible for the Li family to learn it first? Li Xiaohan was the only girl to figure it out. This old man We, even those from the same clan, cannot hang around a 13-year-old girl. "Let your aunts teach you how to practice, and let them learn from you for a day. If you can't learn it, you can only blame yourself for being stupid."

There is absolutely no such thing as something that cannot be learned and has to be taught all the time. It is not tiring to lead a clumsy person.

"Hey, yes, yes, don't worry about those who are clumsy and can't learn. You are young, so don't worry." The tribesman spoke, and everyone onlookers agreed.

"Well Xiandong, niece Xiaohan, when... shall we start?" Everyone had heard from the clan leader before that if they had to learn this, they would have to work for Li Xiandong's family for a day in vain.

This morning has passed, and some people's little calculations have begun to ring in their minds. Besides, if they have to wait another day, they will lose one more day of making money. How can this be wasted.

Everyone was so anxious that they wanted to go out immediately.

"We haven't put down our things yet, and we haven't eaten anything yet. We'll come back in half an hour after eating." Li Xiaohan said, and he must not delay his meal because of this incident.

Don't forget, Dr. Zhang said that he was at a disadvantage because he was short.

I really can't stand being short.

"Hey, hey, that's right. Then niece Xiaohan, you go home and put down your things first. We'll get ready too."

And the clever one immediately helped pick up the fresh eucommia bark that Li Xiaohan and his family brought back as they were.

"By the way, ask the aunts to bring a kitchen knife and a straw brush when they come to my house." Li Xiaohan warned.

"Hey, hey, remember." Everyone nodded.

Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan were sent back to the Li family. At this time, Wang also returned after getting news from the fields.

"I sold Eucommia ulmoides for more than two taels and bought half a pound of green salt. Keep the rest of the money and let's make some food quickly. We have to go up the mountain after dinner." Li Xiandong put the remaining money into the mountain. Give the money to Mrs. Wang and give her instructions.

Mrs. Wang wiped her hands hard on her clothes, then Fang stretched out her hand to take over the two taels of silver. Her eyes were shining and she grinned, "Hey."

After Wang quickly hid the money and quickly prepared the meal, the fast-moving clan member had already arrived at the Li family.

"Xiandong, niece Xiaohan, you eat, don't be in a hurry, we are waiting for you." Seeing that the Li family had not finished eating, the visitor said a little embarrassed, but it was impossible for them to go back. .

Someone even said diligently, "Xiandong, where do you keep your woodcutter? Take it out and we will sharpen it for you. It will be just right. You will save the trouble after eating."

"Xiaohan, do you need to wash the fried eucommia later? Then I will help fill up the water first."

"Yes, yes, that's it. Make preparations first. I'll come too."

=== Chapter === 31

The Li family members began to gather at the Li family in twos and threes. The three members of the Li family ate a little faster. After all, when it came to making money, everyone wanted to seize the day.

However, before going out, Wang hesitated, "Should I stay with Xiaohan?"

"Mom, I don't need you here. You can go out with dad." Li Xiaohan refused directly.

The preparation of Eucommia bark can be done slowly, but the Eucommia trees on the mountain will not always be there waiting for you.

It goes without saying which one is more anxious.

"Yes, Sister Wang, we are here. Today, we are all Xiaohan's students. We have taken care of your work at home. You hurry up the mountain. This won't delay you." Li Guiqian's wife, Mrs. Zhao, carried Holding a piece of bacon as a ceremony to become a master, he came happily.

"Sister-in-law, how is this appropriate?" Wang said a little cautiously.

Although they had been in contact with each other for two days on the day they joined the gang, how could a long-lasting habit be changed in a short time? If Li Xiandong had always lowered his head like an invisible man, then Mrs. Wang even lowered her head to the dust. Wang had always respected and envied women like Zhao who were in charge of the family.

Now, Mrs. Zhao actually said that she wanted to be Li Xiaohan's apprentice for a day, and even brought a piece of bacon as a formal apprenticeship ceremony. Mrs. Wang was feeling a hundred kinds of emotions.

"The clan leaders said it was appropriate, so of course it is appropriate." Mrs. Zhao responded generously, not feeling rude at all because her elder asked the younger generation for advice.

After living for half his life, Mr. Zhao has long understood: If you can learn the method of making money so easily, it is really profitable.

If Li Xiaohan's niece hadn't been a girl, Zhao Guihua would have had this opportunity in her life. Many men in the village were secretly jealous, but there was nothing they could do.

"Sister, you really gave birth to a good daughter." Thinking of this, Mrs. Zhao replied sincerely.

"No, I heard that I was going to learn how to prepare Eucommia ulmoides. It cost an extra 60 cents. My family member repeatedly told me to study hard." Another aunt said, "If it weren't for the fact that preparing Eucommia ulmoides depends on the heat on the stove, There is no other way. Only us women are here. This opportunity is not our turn. Xiaohan, you have made a living for us women."

"So, Sister Wang, don't worry, we will all listen to your daughter today." The women laughed loudly and said, everyone understands that the Eucommia trees in the mountains wait for no one, and one more person may be just one step faster. Maybe two more coins.

Haven't you heard? A tree contains about forty pounds of fresh bark, which costs one thousand six hundred liang. Made into dry skin, two thousand eight hundred coins!

Mrs. Wang originally wanted to make money, but she was worried about it, so she didn't refuse now. The group went up the mountain, and Li Xiaohan took other ladies and aunts to start making Eucommia bark.

"Xiaohan, look at my Eucommia bark, do you brush it clean?"

"Mother Zhao, look, you don't need the dirty skin here. You have to peel it off with a kitchen knife. Don't be reluctant, otherwise the quality won't improve and the medicine hall won't accept it, which will be an even bigger loss."

Li Xiaohan knew that people were frugal at the time and was reluctant to peel off all the superficial skin. After all, money was calculated based on weight. But it really doesn't work.

"Ha, I got it right now, just wait."

Zhao endured the heartache and peeled the piece of bark clean and beautiful. It was not that she didn't know, but she still couldn't bear to part with it, just in case it could be used. It seems that it really doesn't work.

"Xiaohan, do you think I brushed it cleanly?" Another aunt showed Li Xiaohan the cleaned Eucommia bark.

"It's very good. It's clean." Li Xiaohan took it and took a look and affirmed, "That's it. The moss and dirt in the gaps will be wiped clean."

"Haha, I'm not bragging. I've been known to be a tidy person ever since I was a girl."

"Haha, mother Tieniu, just praise her. There is no one in our house who is not neat."

This is really true, because the patriarch said that each family has only one quota, and one person can only study for one day, so the most skillful daughter-in-law of each family is sent here.

It was only after some internal competition that she was able to learn skills from Li Xiaohan, the head daughter-in-law of the Li family.

"Xiaohan, can you look at the size of my sister-in-law?"

"Okay, it just needs to be like this, the same size, so that when it is fried, the heat will be the same. Otherwise, if some are cooked and some are not, then they will be useless."

"It's like cooking ingredients like cooking."

"Hahaha, it's not just about cooking on the stove."

Everyone was harmonious and happy, except Mr. Chen who was immersed in his work and kept silent.

Because her family did not receive special treatment, her mother-in-law complained at home, but was scolded by her father-in-law.

Therefore, when we came here, most of the families came here with bacon and fish, but I only came here with two cabbage and turnips given by my mother-in-law.

Xiao Chen also thought that she was Li Xiaohan's biological aunt, and that Li Xiaohan's grandfather and grandmother were still supporting her. These two cabbage turnips gave Li Xiaohan face.

However, when Li Xiaohan took the cabbage and turnip with a smile, he said kindly, "How can Auntie be so polite? It's a family. Even if Auntie comes empty-handed, I will definitely teach you."

Xiao Chen felt like a fist punched into the air.

When she learned that Li Guiqian's daughter-in-law Zhao was carrying bacon, the future patriarch Li Xinhe's daughter-in-law was carrying cured duck, and the third uncle Gongsun's wife was carrying cured chicken, Xiao Chen's face slowly turned red.

Now that the family is separated, there are two families. They need to be filial, and they should be filial to Li Shengli, their biological grandfather, and not to their half-aunts and uncles.

The vague scrutiny and hidden disdain from everyone made Xiao Chen understand that this apprenticeship ceremony was not for other people, but for herself. I learned this craft for myself. I took it lightly, and I underestimated myself. I thought that I was not worthy of learning a craft that stood up to others.

After Xiao Chen figured out this truth, Fang slowly felt embarrassed.

No one looked down upon her, only she, the Chen daughter, looked down upon the Chen daughter.

A group of women washed and rinsed, and after finishing, they had to add salt water to soak.

"Aunts, be sure to pay attention to the ratio of salt to water. 50 pounds of bark, 1 pound of green salt. Use this kind of wooden basin. The water just covers the bark. Soak it for a day." Li Xiaohan said arrive.

Everyone stared intently at Li Xiaohan's movements, silently chanting 50 kilograms of bark, 1 kilogram of salt, and water to cover the bark. They did not dare to breathe loudly until they were sure that they would not forget it even when sleeping.

"This thing is really like pickling sauerkraut." Ms. Zhao said with a smile, and the tense atmosphere relaxed.

"No, I will stir it up later, and everyone will feel even more." Li Xiaohan continued with a smile, and as Li Xiaohan finished speaking, the atmosphere began to get tense again.

Li Xiaohan did not persuade everyone not to be so nervous. There's no point in trying to persuade him. It's about money, and no one here is nervous. Especially these women are selected by their families. If they don't learn well, these women will probably be blamed when they go back, and they themselves will not be able to live well.

Li Xiaohan, who wanted to understand, could only explain all the operation steps in detail. She picked up the soaked Eucommia bark and put it on a dustpan to drain. This is the Eucommia bark that Li Xiandong processed last night. Today's processed Eucommia bark. The skin cannot be fried so quickly.

Fortunately, last night, Li Xiandong saw Li Xiaohan frying the first pot of Eucommia bark, and his confidence greatly increased. Seeing Li Xiaohan and Wang busy frying the second and third pots, Li Xiandong, who had nothing to do after dinner, simply cooked it himself Wash some fresh eucommia bark, and finally Li Xiaohan added salt and soaked it in water. It has almost been soaked for enough time now.

"Aunts, this is the heat. Do you know? Of course, the smoother the better. If you really can't control it, it's better to be small than big. If the heat is low, stir fry for a while at most, and you can save it. If the heat is high, it will be burnt. But it's useless." Li Xiaohan lit a fire and demonstrated to everyone.

A group of people gathered around the kitchen, trying to get a look at the fire in the stove. At this time, there was no talk of humility.

"Oh, Sister-in-law Zhou, don't squeeze me."

"It's not that I want to squeeze you, it's just that I can't see it."

"Aunt Chen, you've been blocking this spot for long enough, let everyone take a look too."

"Oh, no, I just took a look..."

Li Xiaohan looked at the talented aunts and sisters in the clan, as if they were grabbing eggs at a supermarket, the ones behind were pushing forward with all their strength, and the feet in front were rooted to the ground, refusing to move, and the sweat on their foreheads was breaking out. Here comes, "Don't be crowded, don't be anxious. Today's soaked Eucommia bark needs to be fried in 4 pots. Let me count. The aunts will come in 4 times, 5 people at one time and 6 people at the last time."

"Okay, this is a good idea. Let's do it." Li Xinhe's daughter-in-law, Ye Shi, as the future patriarch's daughter-in-law, couldn't bear the squeeze, and said, "I will lead by example and be the last in line."

Ye also had his own plan and was the last one in line. Although it was a little late and there was one more person, he had heard a lot of experience and might be more proficient by then. I can't be embarrassed. I heard from my husband that Xiaohan's sister was wasted all the time, so if I fight for it, I will only be wasted.

Even if she can't compare to sister Xiaohan, she can't be much worse than others.

Ye's head turned very fast, and some of the others followed, some did not, but they were familiar with each other, and everyone quickly arranged themselves in order.

Li Xiaohan can finally teach with peace of mind, "Put your hand on the pot surface and feel the heat, then you can stir-fry. It is recommended that you use a new pot. A repaired pot will not heat evenly, which is not good; and pots that have been used for a long time, There is a pot atmosphere, after all, there is something special about frying medicinal materials."

Li Xiaohan was stir-frying and explaining at the same time. Everyone nodded frequently, wishing that it would be engraved in their hearts.

About half an hour passed.

"Okay, just fry it like this." Li Xiaohan put the fried eucommia bark into a clean dustpan and warned, "Sisters-in-law, you can take a piece and break it apart to see. The fried eucommia bark has no original texture. It's silvery, and it still tastes faint of wood and salt. Be careful when it's hot."

Everyone picked up a piece of Eucommia ulmoides, broke it into several small pieces, and tasted it carefully like some delicacy.

…

In the evening, the sunset sets in the west.

Since there was not much soaked eucommia bark, Li Xiaohan fried it four times and then it was gone.

Li Xiaohan used a dustpan to put the fried eucommia peels under the eaves and let them cool before packing them in sacks.

Under the eaves corridor, plates of soaked eucommia peels have been placed, as well as the eucommia barks that have been cut but have not had time to be processed. They are all placed upright against the wall to prevent them from getting stuffy together and getting moldy.

Everyone who came to learn the craftsmanship helped Li Xiaohan organize these things. Today, in addition to frying Eucommia ulmoides, everyone was rushing to do other tasks for Li Xiaohan.

"The masters in this city are really good at building houses. The verandahs are very useful, and the eucommia bark is placed there. They are not afraid of being wet by the dew at night, nor are they afraid of being ruined by a sudden heavy rain." said the knowledgeable aunt.

"No, Xiandong's family is really courageous. The money spent is really worth it, and it will be earned back soon," said Zhao.

Her eyes glanced at the Eucommia ulmoides tree in the Li family's woodshed that had not yet been peeled. She moved her lips several times, and finally couldn't help but say, "Xiaohan, I heard that you are also very good at peeling bark. Well, you Can you teach me some lessons?"

=== Chapter === 32

"Xiaohan, I heard that you are very good at peeling bark from trees. Well, can you teach me how to do it?"

She also saw the men in her family yesterday, but the men in her family mainly teach the old man's sons and grandsons, while women like them mostly work on the sidelines. To be honest, she was very jealous. This is a craft.

As soon as Zhao finished speaking, those who were helping the Li family sweep the floor, clean the stove, and wash the wooden plates... all stopped.

Zhao's family is pretty good. Most of the women in this room have only heard of one bark-cutting person, and they don't know anything about the others.

This is a craft. The more you learn, the better you can stand up at home. In the future, he will pass it on to his daughter, and when she gets married, she won't be afraid of what her husband's family will say.

"Okay, what's the point?" Li Xiaohan responded happily, "Mother, help me get that woodcutter."

"Hey." Mrs. Zhao's voice was loud and loud, but it was trembling slightly if you listened carefully. She smiled so much that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes stretched out.

I really didn't expect Li Xiaohan to agree so readily. How difficult it is to learn a craft, especially women like them, who spend all day around the stove, thinking about trivial things like three meals a day. Not necessarily too proud, just that there is no other choice.

Now, being able to learn a profitable craft makes Ms. Zhao even feel that she is too greedy, and then she cannot stop the joy in her heart.

After the joy, Ms. Zhao felt very guilty.

It's not that she hasn't heard the gossip about Li Xiandong's family from the villagers in the past, but they are just relatives in the next room. It's better to have less to worry about than to have more to worry about. Now that I think about it, I feel really indifferent.

But in the future, if there is even the slightest bit of gossip, I will immediately step forward and tear those people's mouths off. Zhao secretly swore in her heart.

Hearing Li Xiaohan's reply, the women sweeping, washing, and tidying up all moved, "Hey, wait until I finish this work. We are really blessed today, thanks to Xiaohan."

"Why are you saying those kind words? My family doesn't have enough hands. This eucommia tree used to be used to make furniture. Now this windfall is here and no one has peeled it off." Li Xiaohan said with a cheerful smile.

She was telling the truth. People at this time did not think that human power was wealth. Little did they know that human power could buy time and freedom, which was also one of the wealth.

In other words, if you peel off your skin early and buy money early, you will be safe.

But everyone only thought that she was trying to appease everyone. The wood would not become less if it was placed here. A small amount of effort can be exchanged for a craft, which is something that can only be dreamed of.

"Come on, come on, lift out the wood together. Okay, put it here." Li Xiaohan directed everyone.

"Aunts, look, when it comes to cutting the bark, first make a circle horizontally, up and down. The force must be steady and accurate. Just reach the woody part, and then make a vertical cut along the lines of the bark."

Li Xiaohan demonstrated while operating the knife, "Then, gently pry up the bark along the longitudinal seam, push it to one side little by little with the knife, and use your other hand to help pull."

"Okay, the bark will be peeled off completely." Li Xiaohan moved steadily and quickly to cut out a complete piece of bark. "Such square, genuine and good-looking bark is most popular when sold fresh. , when making dried eucommia bark, it's also easy to divide into different sizes."

"Doctor Zhang from Renhetang is a neat person. He likes barks of the same size and square shape. Barks of different qualities have different prices. I think the difference can be several cents."

"Oh, it's true. Look at the bark. It's square and square. It's the rarest thing. There's no damage inside. It's extremely smooth. This is craftsmanship. I like it too," said Zhao.

"No, no. Xiaohan, come again, let us take a look again."

"OK."

Being able to learn another craft, this group of people once again burst out with 100% enthusiasm.

…

When Li Xiandong and Wang returned home from the foot of the mountain with a group of people, everyone had learned the craft and returned, and the Li family returned to silence again. If it weren't for the lack of materials, these village ladies and aunts could stay until Li Xiandong and the others came back.

Hearing a knock on the door, Li Xiaohan went up and opened the door, "Dad, you are back. Is this?"

Li Xiandong saw that Li Xiaohan was confused as he looked at the tree trunks and branches brought back by the crowd, and explained with a smile, "Why don't we need firewood to make dried eucommia bark? While there are many people, we will carry back the eucommia branches and branches to use as firewood."

Li Xiaohan looked at the branch of Eucommia ulmoides trailing behind, thought of something, and pursed his lips without speaking.

"Come in." Li Xiandong opened the door and paid no attention to Li Xiaohan's stunned expression. "What is this kid doing standing at the door?"

"Xian Dong, we have put them all in the woodshed." Several men put the firewood into the woodshed, and when they saw the bark drying on the verandah, there were bursts of envy in their eyes.

Li Xiandong put the bark cut today on the ground of the main room and said, "Thank you for your hard work today."

"Brother Xiandong, what are you talking about? We haven't even thanked you for teaching us how to make money. Let's go back now and go up the mountain tomorrow morning."

"Hey." Li Xiandong waved his hand. He receives more respect today than he did in the first half of his life. Although he still can't speak, his posture is at least a little more natural.

Everyone put down their things and dispersed to go home.

Li Xiaohan came back to his senses and said with a smile, "Mom, dad, drink some water and take a rest first. I have cooked the rice and prepared the dishes. Just heat them up."

"Hey," Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang took the water and drank it. They saw the pile of partially peeled wood in the woodshed and asked, "Did you also peel the Eucommia trees at home today?"

While Li Xiaohan was cooking the food, he said, "Yes, I cut it with the aunts. I thought, since the bark is valuable, it can't be piled up like this."

If it weren't for leaving part of the eucommia tree to teach people who would come tomorrow to peel it, those aunts and ladies would still be reluctant to leave.

"No, this is all money." Wang took a sip of water and nodded frequently. Since they can cut bark together, Li Xiaohan must also get along well with the aunt in the village.

Before Mrs. Wang went out, she saw that those who came were the highly praised daughters-in-law of various families in the village. Mrs. Wang herself was not popular in the village, but her daughter was popular in the village, and she would definitely be able to find a good marriage in the future. "You did the right thing about this."

"Master, I'm going to the kitchen." Wang drank a bowl of water and immediately went to the kitchen to replace Li Xiaohan without resting. Being a girl is a rare moment of relaxation in a woman's life. If she hadn't been so busy during this period, Mrs. Wang wouldn't have tolerated her girl working so hard.

Li Xiaohan didn't know that Mrs. Wang had already thought about her marriage. While she was lighting a fire for Mr. Wang, she was thinking about the Eucommia leaves.

You have to eat your food one bite at a time. The foundation of your family is not stable, and you are still too weak in this feudal society. You should start by processing traditional medicinal materials to make some money.

The bright firelight shone, making Li Xiaohan's dark and watery eyes seem to have two clusters of flames burning.

Early the next morning, more tribesmen and villagers gathered in front of Li Xiandong's house than yesterday.

This is really a way to make money, as soon as word spreads.

Seeing so many people, Wang and Li Xiandong decided to leave Wang to stay with Li Xiaohan.

Yesterday those who came were all close friends, Zhao and others, but those who came today were not very familiar, and there were even relatives with different surnames, leaving Li Xiaohan uneasy at home alone.

The other is that if there are more people going up the mountain with Li Xiandong, the role that Wang can play will be reduced. The bark of this tree is almost cut, and one person can help. Without Wang, it will not be much different.

Li Xiaohan had no objection to Li Xiandong and Wang's decision. If there were more people, it would indeed be more appropriate for Wang to stay at home. After all, the family now has some wealth.

In just two days, the news spread quickly among the Li clan in Pingshan Village that the bark of this fake silkworm tree, also called the Eucommia ulmoides tree, could make a lot of money.

The third day when Li Xiaohan taught how to fry Eucommia bark.

That evening, Li Xiandong seemed a little restless after he came back. Although he tried his best to hide it, his acting skills were not very good.

The mountains at night are dangerous, so those who go up the mountain to harvest eucommia bark will rush back before the sun sets. But the women who follow Li Xiaohan to learn skills are different. They wish they could stay a little longer to wash their hands. They are also willing to do the hard work.

"Aunts, that's it for today. You all learned very well today. Let's try a pot first when we go back. There will be no problem."

The women who heard Li Xiaohan speak were particularly reluctant to leave. They were all carefully selected by their families. If they failed to learn, they would not only run the risk of losing money when they go back, but they might also be complained by their families. scold. Therefore, everyone who comes to study with Li Xiaohan pays special attention and cherishes every minute and every second.

However, since Li Xiaohan said this, everyone left one after another: "Xiaohan, let's go. Thank you for your hard work today."

Everyone's heart is really anxious and hot.

After seeing off the aunts, Li Xiaohan closed the door and asked, "Dad, what's wrong?"

Logically speaking, today is already the third day, so there should be no problem with Eucommia ulmoides.

Li Xiandong looked around to make sure he was the only one at home, then lowered his voice and said, "Xiaohan, I found two more Panax notoginseng plants today."

Li Xiandong remembered that this afternoon, he had just led people to harvest the bark of an Eucommia tree. He wanted to find a hidden place to squat down and solve the six realms of reincarnation. When he lowered his head, he found two Panax notoginseng growing on the ground.

At that time, I was so shocked that I forgot about reincarnation. Then I suspected that I was dazzled and rubbed my eyes frantically, fearing that I would see the wrong thing because of my old eyesight.

"I've looked at it carefully, and it looks very similar to the Panax notoginseng we sold last time. I'm 90% sure. And one plant has 4 of those compound leaves you mentioned, and one plant has 3. Both plants are in bloom. I caught the little red fruit. But there were so many people, so I was afraid of being discovered, so I had to come back first."

Li Xiandong finished speaking hastily, then looked at Li Xiaohan and said expectantly: "Should we find an opportunity to dig it back quickly?"

This is all living money in the field.

They relied on selling Panax notoginseng to get through the initial difficulties of separation, and they had money to build a house and pay for medical treatment.

A total of seventy-six taels of silver!

Li Xiandong still remembers how he felt at that time. It was so difficult at that time. He almost wanted to die, but he also thought about risking his life and going to the deep mountains to give it a try.

In the end, nothing happened. He kept his life and had hope. The Sanqi was like a Bodhisattva sent from heaven to save the suffering.

"Yes, yes, yes. There are many people in the mountains now, we have to hurry up." Wang, who was listening on the side, rubbed his hands anxiously.

"Dad, Mom, let me think about it."

What else to think about?

Li Xiandong and Wang looked at Li Xiaohan with confusion in their hearts.

But Li Xiaohan's face was full of solemnity and thinking at this moment. For a moment, Li Xiandong and Wang forgot her identity and age, and eagerly waited for Li Xiaohan to make a decision.

After more than half a cup of tea, Li Xiaohan said with caution, "Father, mother, I think there are two solutions for the two Panax notoginseng plants. I want to hear your opinions."

=== Chapter === 33

"The first option is to dig up Sanqi immediately. According to the previous price of Renhetang, you should be able to get more than ten taels of silver."

"The second option is to let them stay there and not move them. I am more inclined to this."

Li Xiaohan looked at his parents who looked confused and continued to express his thoughts, "The thirty-seven kinds of seeds we sown last time have already sprouted. This means that after three years, how many seeds will we have?" Hundreds of mature Panax notoginseng can be sold and can be bred again. However, after that batch is sold out, it will take another three years for the next batch of seedlings to grow up. It will take at least six years for the second batch to grow. Harvest in batches of thirty-seven."

"But if we keep these two Panax notoginseng plants now, we can pick the seeds of Panax notoginseng every year. Next year, the year after, and the year after that, we will have seeds every year. After three years , every year we will have mature Panax notoginseng, which is like planting crops, and there will be a harvest every year."

"However, this is also risky, because we don't know if someone will find these two Panax notoginseng plants and exchange them for money. Or, maybe these Panax notoginseng will be used by someone who cuts wood or clears the way. If it's wasted, we won't get a dime."

"It's just that we are not rich now, but we are much better than before. Moreover, we discovered Eucommia ulmoides, and Eucommia ulmoides will bring us a lot of money, so I feel that we You can take a risk. Dad, Mom, what do you think?"

I was speechless for a long time.

Li Xiandong and Wang were shocked by the prospects described by Li Xiaohan.

Although they had imagined that these Panax notoginseng seedlings could be sold for another sum of money in three years. But I have never thought about it as I do now. Panax notoginseng can be sown year after year, harvested year after year, and sold year after year like crops.

It's like a dream.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Xiandong asked carefully with trembling lips: "Can you dig up those two Panax notoginseng plants and plant them in our house?"

"Dad, I've thought about it too, but wild Panax notoginseng has grown into a three- or four-year-old plant. If you dig it out and plant it back, you'll probably die."

As Li Xiaohan finished speaking, huge disappointment appeared on Li Xiandong's face.

After a while, Li Xiandong pursed his lips tightly: "I will do as you say. You are the smartest person in our family, and I will listen to you. As the old saying goes, if you starve to death, you must not eat seeds. The two Panax notoginseng plants are gone, I...I just pretend that I have never seen those two Panax notoginseng plants."

Li Xiaohan looked at his father in surprise, as if a dark and silent stone on the roadside suddenly revealed a hidden brilliance.

Li Xiaohan smiled and praised: "Dad, you are so courageous."

Li Xiandong smiled sheepishly and returned to his dark, inconspicuous stone appearance.

Li Xiaohan didn't care either. Li Xiandong's personality had been pretty much fixed for half his life. This little change was already worthy of surprise: "Dad, you can find an opportunity in the next few days and go again." Go there and pick off the small red fruits, which are the seeds of Panax notoginseng."

"Okay, I'll remember it." Li Xiandong nodded, "I'll wrap it in leaves and put it in my arms to make sure not a single seed is missed."

"Yes. Dad, just watch. It will be fine in the next few days. The fruit may fall later." Li Xiaohan warned.

"Sure." Li Xiandong nodded.

After the family discussed this matter, they were ready to have dinner.

"Why is today's food so good?" Li Xiandong asked Wang curiously, "Do you still have time and mood to bake pies?"

Wang smiled slightly and said nothing. Li Xiaohan said mischievously, "Dad, what flavor do you want to try?"

Li Xiandong picked up a pancake and took a bite, "Hey, it's similar to what your former sister-in-law made. You also added minced meat."

Li Xiaohan still didn't answer, pointed at a bowl of braised pork and said, "Dad, will you try this again?"

Li Xiandong was confused, but he still listened to Li Xiaohan and took a chopstick to braise the meat, "This braised pork is similar to the braised pork served at the patriarch's house for wine."

Li Xiaohan pursed his lips and smiled, "And this, and this."

Li Xiandong took a sip of the pickled cabbage and duck soup that Li Xiaohan mentioned, and said strangely: "I can't eat this. But where did our duck come from? I haven't bought any duck recently."

Li Xiaohan smiled with a row of snow-white rice teeth, "This pickled cabbage and duck soup was sent by the third uncle's family; this stewed meat was sent by the patriarch's family; these pancakes were sent by the second uncle's family. "Dad, have you forgotten what day it is today?"

"What day is today?" Li Xiandong was very surprised that so many people brought food to his family. "Ah, today, did they sell the Eucommia ulmoides they cooked back home after studying?"

"That's right. I came here to study on the first day, and on the second day I went home and cooked it myself. Today is the third day, so I can go to the city to sell money." Li Xiaohan nodded and said, "You sold the money, don't you? I need to buy some food and clothing."

"That's how it is, that's how it is." Li Xiandong sighed in his heart, and for a moment, he felt all kinds of emotions, feeling sorry for his tribe, but also feeling a bit proud.

Not to mention himself, even his father has never eaten the food sent by the patriarch's family and his third uncle.

Li Xiandong now sees that braised pork is no longer braised pork, and pickled cabbage and duck soup is not pickled cabbage and aged duck soup.

"Dad, what do you want? Eat it. This dish is really delicious. After eating it, you have to take people up the mountain tomorrow, and I have to teach people to fry Eucommia ulmoides tomorrow."

"Okay." Li Xiandong grabbed the chopsticks and ate with big mouthfuls of meat.

At this time, except for Li Xiandong's family, it was almost time for every household in Pingshan Village to eat.

Li Shengyi's family.

"Today's pancakes have meat in them!" Several children around 4 or 5 years old at home cheered, "I've made money and have meat to eat."

With a smile on her face, Ms. Zhao came out of the kitchen with a plate of pancakes, "Not only is there meat today, but you can eat as much as you want today."

"Wow wow wow, then I want to eat 3 pancakes."

"I can eat four."

"I can eat 100 of them."

"Bragging, do you know what 100 is?"

"I just know, 1, 2, 3,...count along the way."

…

The adults in Li Shengyi's family looked at these naughty children with smiles.

There are many children at home, so I save a little on daily meals. It's not that you can't eat enough, but you have to eat coarse grains and fine grains together. When you don't have any work, you mix them with water to make your stomach full.

That's it, calculating every penny, I saved a family fortune for my son and a dowry for the girl.

It's just that the son marries a daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law gives birth to grandchildren, and the frugal life repeats itself again and again.

It doesn't matter, adults. Life is better than before, and there is hope.

The children are also sensible and neither noisy nor fussy on weekdays. However, there are no restrictions and the days when they can eat meat freely always make the children happy.

"Dad, it's time to eat." Li Guiqian asked Li Shengyi.

"Yes." Li Shengyi nodded, "Get up early tomorrow and go up the mountain to find Eucommia ulmoides."

"Hey, I got it, Dad."

The patriarch's house.

The patriarch's family, a big family in Pingshan Village, would naturally not be happy about being able to eat meat.

Li Xinhe came back from the city during the day and brought back the news that a pot of Eucommia ulmoides had been fried, and he received 22,780 silver coins.

Li Xin and his wife quietly pursed their lips and smiled, and cooked their best braised pork.

After dinner, several oil lamps were lit in the study room of the patriarch's house.

"Dad, it's dark, you should go to bed early." Li Xinhe came in and advised.

"It's okay, I lit the lamp. Tell me how you went to Renhetang to sell Eucommia ulmoides? When will they receive it?" The patriarch did not agree, but sat upright and asked seriously.

"I confirmed again and again, and Renhetang said it would continue to accept them, and the price would not change."

"That's good, that's good. In the past few days, the clan members have been busy going up the mountain to look for Eucommia ulmoides, so the Eucommia ulmoides on the clan's common ground will not be touched for now. There is also the eucommia ulmoides from your Uncle Xiandong's house that hasn't been sold yet. You should always pay attention to this news."

The clan leader sighed twice, "After these few days, when the wave has passed, you can lead people to carefully count the eucommia trees on the clan's common land. When the time comes, which batch should be cut first and which batch should be cut last? Come up with a detailed plan."

"Dad, didn't you count it once?"

"That's just an approximate number. Please help me get the account book from the cabinet. You see, at the end of the year, the annual salary of Mr. Clan will be increased, and the rooms in the school will also need to be repaired. There are also Those families who are alone and widowed have to get through this year. Now that we have Eucommia ulmoides, we can live a more comfortable life this year."

The patriarch's tone became a little more relaxed, and after a moment he said, "In the next year, you can go to the city and have a look. You can also buy a copy of this year's children's test papers. Buy some pens, inks, paper, and inkstones. At that time, you arrange a few boys who are good at writing to copy a few copies of them."

"I know, Dad." Li Xinhe lowered his head slightly.

Unlike the patriarch's family, where the atmosphere was a bit heavy, Li Shengyi's family was happy to eat meat, and the third uncle's family was purely happy.

After all, the third uncle's family is not so poor that they need to worry about eating meat, nor do they need to worry about the clan like the patriarch. Of course, they are still happy if they can make money and eat meat.

"Grandpa, you still have the wisdom to know people, so I asked you why you asked me to help Brother Xiandong build a house. Did you see it then?" Li Deyou took a bite of old duck meat, which was delicious. , after eating, he did not forget to flatter the third uncle, the head of the family.

"You can't stop your mouth even if you eat." The third uncle really didn't have the foresight to guess that Li Xiandong's family could be so extraordinary, but it didn't stop him from silently taking credit for this achievement.

Not to mention that he didn't know, there were several people in the family who had some objections to him sending Deyou to help build the house. At that time, only Deyou, a silly boy, agreed happily.

Maybe it's just stupid people who are lucky.

The third uncle thought so, so he said, "Since our family has learned other people's craftsmanship, although it is not a help in times of need, it is also the icing on the cake. In the future, you will get closer to Xiandong's family, especially if you are virtuous. , Xiandong has a small family, so you always look to see if he needs help."

Now no one has any opinions about Uncle San.

"I got it, Grandpa." Li Deyou had no idea that his grandfather was taking advantage of this to frighten other family members. He just thought that his grandfather meant what he said literally, and he deserved it quickly and brightly. Xiandong's house is so nice. Xiaohan's niece cooks delicious food and often comes up with new tricks.

The third uncle glanced at him and said, "Let's continue eating."

Smoke curls from cooking stoves, and the aroma of food wafts out from every house in Pingshan Village.

The night is getting deeper, the moon is high in the sky, and everyone who went to bed early begins to look forward to the dawn in their dreams.

Originally, Li Xiaohan told Li Xiandong to find an inconspicuous time to pick the two Panax notoginseng seeds.

As a result, unable to wait for the right time, Li Xiandong brought the fruit back the next day.

"We have to go into the mountain anyway, so I'll just go in through the same road as yesterday." Li Xiandong said.

Okay, I ignored how anxious my father was.

Li Xiaohan opened the well-preserved leaves handed over by Li Xiandong and nodded affirmatively: "They are the seeds of Panax notoginseng."

The onlookers Li Xiandong and Wang showed happy smiles.

"Then shall we find a time to go to the forest to plant these seeds?" Li Xiandong asked worriedly. At this time, everyone was busy and couldn't find any reason to take time out.

"No need. The weather is cold, so you can just plant them in the vegetable garden at the back, and then transplant the seedlings to the woodland in the spring tomorrow."

Modern Eucommia ulmoides seedlings are originally cultivated in greenhouses and transplanted out in spring.

There was nothing I could do in the old house before, but now that I have moved to a new house, I am no longer afraid of being watched.

Although there is no way to control temperature, humidity, and various air densities in your own vegetable garden like modern greenhouse seedlings, at least it is much more convenient to boil water, and you can also observe various diseases and insect pests, and determine the germination rate. Statistics are also supported by sample data.

"Is this okay?" Li Xiandong was very hesitant. It is proper to grow vegetables in the vegetable field.

How could something as precious as Panax notoginseng grow together with that vegetable seedling?

"Dad, don't hesitate. This is our first time to try woodland farming, and the result is successful. The vegetable field is also a good land, with the same water and soil. What if we don't give it a try." Li Xiaohan was not prepared. He talked long and hard to convince her father that as long as Eucommia ulmoides could emerge, his father would be convinced by the facts.

"Sure." After all, my daughter is smarter than them.

So, taking advantage of the weak moonlight, the family rarely lit the oil lamp to the brightest, digging the soil, preparing the land, planting seeds, and watering all night long...

The nearly 300 Panax notoginseng seeds were sown only when the moon was in the middle of the sky.

The moonlight was slightly bright, and the land was so dark that it was inconspicuous, but in the eyes of the three people, there was clearly a hope planted in that land.

"I'll lay out some straw tomorrow. It's going to freeze today. Don't let the freeze damage the seeds at night and affect their germination."

"Uh-huh."

Starting from the first batch of clan leaders and Li Shengyi's family who learned how to fry Eucommia bark and sell it for money, the people of Pingshan Village successively started to fry Eucommia bark successfully and sold it for money.

All of a sudden, all the iron pots near Pingshan Village were purchased, the blacksmith shops were almost overwhelmed, and green salt also sold a lot.

With money, everyone began to be willing to buy a few kilograms of meat that they were reluctant to eat on weekdays. Seeing that winter is coming, it was time to buy some clothes and cloth, which they were reluctant to eat on weekdays. Large items can also be considered.

The dried eucommia bark in Renhetang's warehouse is increasing before his eyes, and the money in the account book is being spent one by one.

This small amount of money is not a problem for Renhetang. Instead, the Eucommia bark has been piling up, and something is about to happen.

On this day, Shopkeeper Luo, the head shopkeeper of Renhetang, reported to the second son of the new owner.

Unlike Dr. Zhang, who became the most respected doctor of Renhetang with his excellent medical skills, Shopkeeper Luo became the chief shopkeeper of Renhetang from a waiter. Therefore, he didn't know anything about it. Where was the competition overwhelmed?

Although shopkeeper Luo had met the second young master when he first came here, it was different. First of all, it was the first time that the second young master took over Renhetang, so he always behaved kindly. Secondly, his wife was also there at that time. , the second young master will most likely not do anything to old people like himself, whom his wife is used to.

It's different now. It's been some time since the Second Young Master took over Renhetang. If you have any ideas, it's probably time to start implementing them.

A successful subordinate should put himself in the position of the boss and think about the problem. Only in this way can he think about what the boss thinks and be in the same direction as the boss, so that he can go further.

Shopkeeper Luo successfully figured out Madam's thoughts: Madam hopes that Renhetang will continue to steadily supply medicinal materials to the general and the eldest son. Therefore, Shopkeeper Luo acted in a stable manner in the past. There was no need to make money or become bigger and stronger.

Thanks to the same goal as his wife, Shopkeeper Luo has been promoted all the way up and firmly sits in the position of the head shopkeeper.

So, what does the second young master want?

Shopkeeper Luo fell to the ground, secretly thinking about the information about the second young master that he had collected during this period.

Rumor has it that this second son is very different from the general and the eldest son. He was weak since he was a child and was unable to join the military. Therefore, he has been taking care of his wife and studying in the general's residence. He is an extremely filial, kind and noble son.

Doctor Zhang had the most contact with the second young master that day. Afterwards, shopkeeper Luo inquired about it and Dr. Zhang also said that the second young master was extremely courteous and virtuous.

However, while waiting in silence at this moment, shopkeeper Luo couldn't help but suspect that the information he had collected was wrong, or that the second young master already knew his secret intentions. After all, it is very unpleasant for some owners to speculate on their thoughts.

"You said that there are nearly 400 kilograms of dried eucommia skin piled in the warehouse, and it is visible to the naked eye. Will villagers continue to sell the prepared eucommia skin?" The second young master frowned slightly, and seemed to have a hint of confusion in his words. , or maybe with a three-point sneer, it's really hard to tell.

"Yes, Second Young Master." Shopkeeper Luo responded quickly.

Well, at that time, he said that he had been buying Eucommia ulmoides at the original price because he wanted to use this to test the second master's thinking.

After all, if you are a madam, you will hoard medicinal materials regardless of the cost. However, if you are a businessman and have a large supply of goods, you will naturally want to lower the price.

At that time, he wanted to try the second young master's idea so as to determine his next route.

However, who knew that there were so many Eucommia trees in the nearby mountains. The more medicines are accumulated, the more medicines are stored, but after all, medicines cannot be eaten as food, so what should I do if they are piled up and wasted? It's not that Renhetang can't afford to waste money, it's most afraid that the second young master will think that he is incompetent in doing things.

"Why are there suddenly so many eucommia peels? Did that family of three send them all?" Even if that family of three broke off their hands, they couldn't produce nearly 400 kilograms of dried eucommia peels in the past ten days. Eucommia bark came out, "has the method of frying eucommia bark spread?"

Shopkeeper Luo demonstrated in his heart a thousand times how the second young master would rebuke him for his incompetence, but unexpectedly, the second young master's thinking had already gone to the other side. He quietly wiped his sweat and replied: "That family of three came here on the first day." I haven't seen it since then. Those who come to Renhetang to sell dried eucommia bark recently are all members of the Li clan in Napingshan Village."

"Oh, is there any capable person in the Li family who is specifically responsible for this matter?" The second young master gently put down the teacup, becoming more interested for no reason.

"That's not true. Although the Li family has always said that it is a scholarly inheritance, in the past ten years, there has not even been a scholar. This time, no one organized it. It is said that the family of three asked the clan to do it for them. After one day's work, they teach the tribesmen how to fry Eucommia ulmoides."

Shopkeeper Luo was very glad that he had collected the information in place.

While listening to Shopkeeper Luo's report, the Second Young Master looked calm, but suddenly he thought of those dark and bright eyes again.

This little bit of interest was pushed back by the second young master, "I remember the function of Eucommia ulmoides is to nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen the muscles and bones, and protect the fetus?"

"Yes." Shopkeeper Luo didn't expect that the second young master could even remember the function of this medicinal material.

"Then why are you worried about this medicinal material? Let Dr. Zhang join other branch doctors of Renhe Hall to study the prescription of Eucommia ulmoides." The second young master put down the tea cup and straightened his expression.

He knew Shopkeeper Luo's little thoughts, so it didn't matter. It would be best for Shopkeeper Luo to figure out his revealed will immediately and act in full accordance with his revealed will.

If not, then Renhetang will find another shopkeeper. Doctor Zhang's medical skills are rare, but the manager's business talent is not irreplaceable.

"You secretly publicize Dr. Zhang's research results. Do it secretly and don't make it public. Those noble people will go crazy for this medicinal material."

Shopkeeper Luo was shocked.

Wonderful. Wonderful.

The best thing is that it's not whether Dr. Zhang's research has any results. Anyway, there are results.

The best thing is this secretly.

This kind of wonderful medicine is naturally best suited to be promoted and sold quietly in private.

Shopkeeper Luo thought about it and couldn't help feeling ashamed of his short-sightedness. I have been in business for many years in vain, and my grasp of people's hearts is not as good as that of the second young master.

Sure enough, my intuition was right. The second young master was not a fuel-efficient lamp as Doctor Zhang said.

The second young master and his wife are indeed very different.

Shopkeeper Luo was excited. He felt that his heart, which had been stable for half his life, became excited again. He felt that he could still struggle for another thirty years.

"Yes, Second Young Master, I understand."

"Back off."

So far, Renhetang has continued to purchase Eucommia ulmoides at the original price.

=== Chapter === 34

Due to the decision of the second son of Renhetang, the purchase of Eucommia ulmoides by Renhetang remained the same, and everyone in Pingshan Village breathed a sigh of relief.

On the evening of the sixth day of October, it has been ten days since Li Xiaohan and his family led the villagers to harvest eucommia bark and prepare eucommia ulmoides.

There is no one near Pingshan Village who doesn't know about Eucommia ulmoides, and the eucommia trees in the nearby mountain forest have been harvested by the villagers like hungry wolves.

Even the ungrown eucommia trees were carefully transplanted back to the mountainous area of their homeland, where they were prepared to be raised for a few years and then make another fortune.

As for whether the cut Eucommia branches can survive and how much they can survive, it all depends on God's will next.

There are also Eucommia seeds. Li Xiaohan carefully placed them in a ventilated and cool place to dry. Eucommia seeds should not be directly exposed to the sun. Rapid water loss will affect the germination rate of the seeds.

At this time, the eaves of the Li family played a big role in blocking direct sunlight, but they were also very ventilated and very suitable for drying seeds.

The first batch of seeds were almost dry in the shade. Li Xiaohan carefully wrapped the seeds in paper and kept them dry - Eucommia seeds are best sown in spring and March and need to be dried and stored until next year.

"Dad, can you tell the villagers that we will no longer teach tomorrow?" Li Xiaohan asked Li Xiandong while wrapping the seeds with his fingers deftly.

"I've already said it. The people around here are pretty much taught, and there's been almost no one around for the past two days."

Whoever learns the Eucommia trees in the mountains first will be able to harvest more Eucommia trees, so the first one or two days are the most crowded. This is already the tenth day, and we only came here at this time. The fur can hardly be touched.

On the contrary, Li Xiaohan's side, some people from remote areas came here specially to learn how to fry Eucommia ulmoides.

"I told the village chief that people from other villages will come tomorrow. Ask the villagers for help and tell them that you won't teach anymore. Your mother and I will prepare the land and sow winter wheat. You stay at home by yourself. Don't open the door to strangers." Li Xiandong warned.

"Hey, I understand. I told everyone a few days ago." Li Xiaohan wrapped the last bag of seeds and put the bamboo dustpan away. "I really don't need to go to the fields to help tomorrow."

"No, just a little bit of dry land, your mother and I can do that. You need to keep an eye on the seeds and bark of Eucommia ulmoides at home. It won't be good if it rains. Just prepare the rice by the way."

"Well, that's OK." Li Xiaohan responded.

As Li Xiandong said, the farmland allocated to their family is really not much, and Li Xiandong and Wang are both skilled. One autumn sowing is enough for two people.

Time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, winter wheat was planted. This round of winter wheat was planted a few days later due to the Eucommia incident, but it was all sown before the beginning of winter. No farmer dares to delay the farming season.

It's the night of October 12th again, the moon is already half full, and Li Xiandong's family is busy packing the prepared eucommia bark into bags to send to the city medicine hall tomorrow. In two days, it will be the beginning of winter.

During this time, people have been coming to their house to learn the craft. Later, they were busy with autumn sowing, and the Li family did not even have time to go to the city to sell eucommia.

Li Xiaohan was really afraid that if the medicine hall had collected enough Eucommia bark and cut the price, their family would really suffer a big loss.

But fortunately, the news came back from the tribe that Renhetang did not lower the price, and they also said how much they would charge and how much they would charge, so Li Xiaohan and others were reassured.

"Dad, you told the clan leader that you can borrow their ox cart tomorrow, right?" Li Xiaohan asked. Their family has a lot of dried eucommia peels accumulated during this period. They just rely on people to carry the load. City, that's not possible.

"Said it." Li Xiandong said in response, neatly stacking a bag of dried Eucommia bark.

Early the next morning, Li Xiandong borrowed an oxcart from the patriarch's house, drove to the door of his house, put the bagged dried eucommia skins on the oxcart, and drove slowly into the city.

Since she still had the medicine from last time and had a lot of chores to do at home, Wang couldn't go there.

The father and daughter drove the ox cart into the city and came to the gate of Renhe Hall.

Recently, many people have come to Renhetang to sell eucommia skins, but this is the first time that they have piled up bullock carts. The guy from the medicine hall looked at them and said, "You two, come in through the back door."

"Hey, thank you, brother." Li Xiandong responded and followed the waiter around to the back door, where they unloaded the sacks together.

"You have a lot of dried eucommia bark at your house," the waiter sighed.

"I've been saving it for a long time, and now I have time to come over." Li Xiandong said cheerfully.

The barks of Eucommia ulmoides brought by Li Xiandong this time were of different qualities. After being identified by the doctor, they all cost at least 100 yuan per catty. The bark of the oldest and best tree was given to them. 160 yuan per pound.

Li Xiandong brought nearly 300 kilograms of Eucommia bark this time, and sold a total of 42 taels and 9 qian silver. The medicine hall gave me 4 10 taels of silver ingots and 2 taels of 9 coins of broken silver.

Li Xiandong held the silver ingot tightly to his chest. Although he said he received a large amount of money from selling Panax notoginseng last time, for some reason, the money from selling Panax notoginseng was gone. It comes too easily, and it is not as solid as Eucommia ulmoides, which is harvested tree by tree and fried pot by pot.

My heart was beating so hard that I wanted to go home immediately and dig a hole to hide the money.

Li Xiaohan was so excited that his eyes sparkled, "Dad, let's go buy some things. The house is really empty and it doesn't look right."

Now that he has money, of course he buys and buys, and starts to decorate his house. Li Xiaohan has been dissatisfied with the empty walls of his house for a long time. Life is not survival.

The money for the medicine was still kept at home. Li Xiandong, who had a huge sum of money, was constantly being teased by Li Xiaohan. Li Xiandong, who wanted to decorate a new home, was easily instigated.

I have moved into a new home and have money. How do I decorate it?

If it is modern, you can first smash the real estate developers' sample decorations. How can you still use the same decorations from the real estate developers if you have money?

However, skip this one. Li Xiandong is so satisfied with his new home that it hurts him to death to move even a single wall.

If you don't smash the wall, color TVs, sofas, central air conditioners, floor heating... should be included.

This one is not very good either, at least it won't work if it's electrically charged, but wooden products will still work.

So, first stop, the furniture store.

There are not many serious furniture stores in Pingshan Village that have been to the city. Oh, this is called a woodware store. Most people just cut some wood themselves, pay some labor fees, and ask the carpenters in the village to build a few tables and stools.

Therefore, as soon as he entered the woodware store, the unfamiliar Li Xiandong was shocked by the whole set of pig liver red tables and chairs in the store.

Li Xiaohan said that this furniture really resembles the institutional aesthetic of his middle-aged boss, especially since the boss has always claimed to be a cultured and tasteful retro furniture enthusiast.

After buying this set of furniture, every minute I felt like I was back in my previous life reporting to my boss.

Unlike Li Xiaohan's inner complaints, Li Xiandong has become deeply obsessed with this set of furniture.

Look at the carved carved strips that rise up on both sides. They are so beautiful no matter how you look at them.

"This is called two sides working together. The dental plates are hung with auspicious flower patterns, and the bent legs are carved with wishful feet." The waiter introduced with a smile.

"Look at this Eight Immortals table. It has a square shape and a solid structure. It has horseshoe-shaped square legs. The waist plate is engraved with the words "Fu, Lu, Shou, Xi, Ruyi".

Li Xiandong's eyes immediately became glued to the Eight Immortals Table.

"There is also this pair of Taishi chairs, with bat patterns on the back, chayote armrests, and carved horseshoe feet. The corners are soft and as gentle as jade. There are also two pairs of the same material and style. Two simple nephew chairs, which symbolize people. Ding is prosperous and the family is prosperous. This is the best meaning."

Li Xiandong nodded wildly. Although their family is only three people, Li Xiandong has a dream of prosperous descendants.

Li Xiaohan had given up trying to persuade Li Xiandong, forget it. Although his boss's retro rich aesthetic had been complained about by his subordinates in his previous life, he was really rich and made real imitation Ming furniture.

Taste, it's all about money. The more you look at it, the more you'll get used to it.

"How much does this set of furniture cost?" Li Xiandong has entered the price inquiry stage.

"Five taels of silver." The waiter reported a number that made Li Xiandong frightened.

Five taels of silver!

Li Xiandong was silent. The set of furniture in the hall of the old house only cost 500 yuan. Of course, he paid for the wood himself.

When the clerk saw that Li Xiandong was silent, he knew that he was too expensive. He gently changed the topic and said, "Sir, look at our set of furniture. This is real red wood. It is not the same kind of wood that you cut casually in the mountains." Same, I promise, it won't grow worms or deform, and it can at least be used until your grandson gets married."

"Look at the paint again, and take a closer look. This is an imitation of the rosewood paint. At first glance, it looks very stable and majestic. But if you look closely, a burst of red emerges vigorously. It is majestic. , festive. No matter you look at it from a distance or up close, it's the same. No matter which angle you look at it from, you can't find anything wrong with it."

The more Li Xiandong listened, the more excited he became.

"So, although our set of furniture is a bit expensive, it can be kept for many years. Calculated, the annual cost is not expensive at all. It is suitable for a family like you, guest. If you buy this set, guest As for the furniture, we can also give you two small suitcases, which is extremely affordable."

Li Xiandong was completely shaken, "What kind of suitcase is it?"

The clerk walked to the side with a smile and introduced, "These two wooden boxes are made of camphor wood. They are most suitable for storing clothes. They are insect-proof and moth-proof. They are exquisite and easy to use. There are no more two or seven or five children."

Li Xiandong looked carefully at the two suitcases. Wang had two large suitcases, but Li Xiaohan only had a broken wooden box. These two suitcases were really suitable for Li Xiaohan.

Even Li Xiaohan felt this way. Well, when he came to this ancient time, he didn't need a large wardrobe that towered over the sky, but two small camphor wood suitcases were still necessary.

"We bought such a complete set of furniture, which cost five taels of silver, and you only gave us two small suitcases. That's too stingy," Li Xiaohan said.

"Girl, we couldn't be more affordable. Even these two small suitcases were given to us because the Chinese New Year is coming soon, and our boss wanted to make small profits but quick turnover during the New Year. In the past, each of these suitcases cost 100 yuan. "

"I will give you another small kang table. Our family bought it." Li Xiaohan patted the small kang table next to her and said. She had already thought about it. This small kang table can be placed in the room, which is practical and convenient.

"Girl, you are really making things difficult for me. We are going to lose money." The waiter looked embarrassed.

"Ask, place an order immediately, otherwise we will leave. For us villagers, the right way is to find carpenters to make furniture. By the way, we live in Pingshan Village. A set of furniture as big as yours can be delivered, right? ."

Li Xiandong's posture was already deeply fascinated by that set of wooden furniture. It's only five taels of silver. They made forty-two taels today. There are still unfried eucommia peels at home.

Li Xiaohan decided to help his father fulfill his wish and buy this set of furniture. When some people have no confidence in themselves, they need external encouragement.

However, you can spend the money that needs to be spent and save the money that needs to be saved.

"Girl, you are really good at running a house. Wait a minute and I'll ask the shopkeeper for you."

The guy left for a while, about having some tea, and came back with a happy face.

So Li Xiaohan knew that it was done.

"Girl, our shopkeeper said that as winter approaches and the Chinese New Year approaches, we will do this business for you. The kang table and small suitcase will be given to you, and the goods will definitely be delivered to your door. Come here, we will pay the money and get the voucher."

"Dad, please pay."

Li Xiandong was confused and took out his Wen Yin to pay.

Unexpectedly, he, Li Xiandong, dared to spend five taels of silver to buy furniture today. This is really too expensive, and it feels like I'm floating in the clouds.

But there is an inexplicable feeling of joy.

After paying the money and getting the voucher, the boy promised to deliver the goods to their door today, and the father and daughter left the wood shop.

For such a big store, I am not afraid that they will default on their bills. The question now is, after visiting the wood shop and buying furniture, what should I buy next?

"Dad, why don't you go to the cloth shop next door? Neither my mother nor I know how to weave. We will have to buy cloth to make clothes in the future and see what the cloth in the city is like."

Money makes people bold. Li Xiandong, who had just spent five taels of silver to buy furniture, was dragged into a cloth shop in the city.

Facing the cloth shop is a wooden counter, and behind the counter are wooden shelves displaying different pieces of cloth. The colors are colorful and the materials are different, which is dazzling.

Even though most families in Pingshan Village grow cotton and weave cloth, they seem to be able to realize freedom of clothing.

But in fact, the woven homespun cotton cloth is thick and hard, only slightly better than linen, and not at all as soft and breathable as the cotton cloth of later generations. This kind of cloth is generally called coarse cloth. Moreover, it is basically only white. At this time, the price of dyeing is relatively expensive.

Therefore, after seeing the various cloths on display in the cloth store, Li Xiaohan regained a little bit of the feeling of looking at clothes in later generations. These cloths are not as stiff as the coarse cloths in the village, but they are also colorful. The weaving and dyeing techniques of professional cloth shops in the city are still much better than those in the village.

The workers at Cloth Village did not look down on Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan because of their shabby clothes. During this period, word spread in the city that these villagers had recently made a fortune by cutting eucommia bark and selling it to medicine halls. , a tree bark is worth about one tael of silver, and it will make more money if prepared.

"Your Majesty, please come this way," the clerk came forward with a smile, "Do you want coarse cloth or fine cotton cloth?"

Li Xiandong only wore old coarse cloth. In the past, only Li Shengli and Chen family wore fine cloth clothes in the old house. After the separation, he saw from a distance that Li Xin and his nephew, who were apprenticed to the scholar, also had fine cloth clothes.

Touching the silver on his body, Li Xiandong became more courageous and said, "Take a piece of coarse cloth and a piece of fine cloth and let me see."

"Okay, please wait a moment, sir." The waiter agreed, and brought over two pieces of cloth: one taupe, one goose yellow, and introduced enthusiastically, "Sir, this coarse cloth is used as a coat, it is durable. It's resistant to stains. We just purchased this fine cloth from Jiangnan, and it's just right for a girl."

Li Xiaohan looked at the goose-yellow muslin. She had rarely seen such a fresh color in the village.

Li Xiandong cherished and touched the goose-yellow fine cloth. It was indeed soft and comfortable. His heart moved and he asked, "How much does this cloth cost?"

"The fine cloth is fifteen cents per foot, six hundred cents per piece, and the coarse cloth is seven cents per foot, two hundred and sixty cents per piece."

Fine cloth is actually twice as expensive as coarse cloth.

However, Li Xiandong looked at Li Xiaohan who was looking at various clothing materials with curiosity. His daughter could earn an extra 60 yuan by frying a pound of dried eucommia bark. She should have a good set of clothes, so he said cruelly, "Give me a dress made of fine cloth." , get a piece of coarse cloth."

As for a piece of coarse cloth, he had calculated that it would be twenty cents cheaper to buy a whole piece. It was a good deal. Without the cotton land, he and Wang would have to buy cloth for clothes in the future.

"Hey, sir, please wait a moment." The clerk smiled happily. Sure enough, most people only buy one and a half pieces of cloth at most. This guest bought a piece of coarse cloth and a piece of fine cloth. As expected, he was rich.

Li Xiaohan, who was looking around, was brought back by Li Xiandong's decision. After thinking about it carefully, she realized that the fine cloth was for her. She thought about it for a while, did not refuse, and said with a sweet smile, "Thank you, dad."

Li Xiandong immediately felt satisfied.

"Dad, the bedding at home is old. How about we buy two more beddings."

Li Xiandong thought about the fact that the bedding he had used for more than ten years, which had been mended and mended, did not match the new kang in his new house, so he said, "Brother, show me what your bedding is used for." cloth."

"Hey, sir, look at this bedding. It's best to use fine cotton cloth. It's comfortable and warm. This indigo fine cotton cloth costs twelve cents per foot and four hundred and fifty cents per piece. It's more than enough to make two beddings. , and the rest can be used to make you a set of clothes."

When Li Xiaohan heard this, he said, "Dad, buy one. I will make you a cotton-padded coat. Mom will also pick one. Now that we are separated, you must have good clothes when you go out for drinks and banquets. You pick a dark-colored one." Yes, Mom, pick a festive color, it's not worth the price difference, and it looks decent."

Li Xiandong thought about this and responded, "Then let's take a look."

So Li Xiandong chose another suit of indigo muslin, while Wang's was made of dark red muslin.

In the final calculation, the goose yellow cotton cloth cost 100 coins, the dark red cotton cloth cost 100 coins, the indigo cotton cloth cost 450 coins, and the taupe coarse cloth cost 260 coins, totaling 910 coins, which is almost one tael of silver.

Li Xiandong clicked his tongue in his heart. Although it was rare to be covered with fine cotton clothes, buying cloth in this city was really expensive.

Li Xiandong smacked his tongue in his heart as he took out one or two pieces of broken silver and came out to pay the bill.

Seeing the broken silver handed over by Li Xiandong, the waiter praised himself for being smart. Fortunately, he didn't respect Luo Yi first and then others. This banker was not only generous with his money, but also bought several pieces of clothing at one time, and his money was worth the money. Sure enough, as the legend goes, I made money by selling tree bark.

It's really difficult to put these fabrics into a backpack and carry them back.

Fortunately, the cloth shop was not far from the wood shop, so Li Xiaohan took Li Xiandong back and asked if he could take the cloth back with him when delivering the furniture.

What's not allowed? Anyway, this bullock cart was filled with goods belonging to him, Li Xiandong.

So, Li Xiandong and his daughter came out of the carpentry shop again and set off again easily.

This time, the two of them went to the butcher's shop, and Doctor Zhang's words about asking the whole family to make up for themselves still rang in their ears.

During this period of time, no matter how busy I am, I never forget to take my medicine and eat well, for fear of damaging my body even more.

Because Li Xiaohan collected tuition fees, the Li family never lacked cured meat. Various kinds of cured meats, cured fish, cured chickens, and cured ducks are hung all over the kitchen ceiling of the Li family. Li Xiaohan's favorite thing is to choose meat while looking at the roof full of cured delicacies.

However, after eating too much bacon, Li Xiaohan became picky and wanted to drink some fresh bone soup.

In the near future, the price of big bones will rise.

"Why did this bone cost 4 cents per catty? There is no meat, no oil or water, it is just a dry bone, and it is very heavy. How can it cost 4 cents per catty?" Li Xiaohan pretended to be surprised. ask.

"Girl, you don't know. This bone is split open, and the layer of marrow inside is oily and slippery. It's delicious and nourishing. It couldn't be better. That's your luck today. Well, at this time in the past, all the bones were sold out."

"How do you know it?"

"Hey, girl, don't believe it. I'll cut it open and show it to you." The butcher selling pork raised a small axe. "This is a way of eating that has been passed down from Pingshan Village. All the butchers around here have it." Got it, I really didn't lie to you."

It turns out that he caused the price increase trend. Sure enough, no good thing will be lost.

"Okay, give me one and help you split it." Although the price has increased, bones still need to be eaten. Who wants bone soup to supplement calcium? It is the time when I am growing taller.

"Hey. OK. Do you want anything else?"

"How much do these ribs cost?"

"The old price of pork ribs is 7 cents per pound."

"Give me a front row, too."

Fortunately, the price of pork ribs has not increased. The pork ribs are so delicious, fragrant, tender and smooth. Li Xiaohan has gradually returned to the taste of his previous life. He is not the same Li Xiaohan who even ate lard residue at the beginning.

Li Xiandong will not have any objection to what he eats. Wang and Li Xiaohan decided on the stove at home, and he was only responsible for paying for it.

"Uncle, do you know where I can buy ewes that have just given birth around here?"

To supplement calcium and grow taller, there is nothing better than cow's milk and goat's milk. At this time, cattle are valuable property, but sheep are not.

Li Xiaohan felt that her height was already in jeopardy. Although her birthday was late, she would not be considered one year old until Xiaohan's day at the end of the year. But at the age of thirteen or fourteen, the golden cycle of growth is these few years.

She must not just watch herself grow into a dwarf without making an effort.

"What do you want a ewe that has just given birth to? Isn't the meat tender?" the butcher asked curiously. When people eat meat, they prefer tender meat.

"Want some goat's milk."

"Oh, that's it." Drinking goat's milk is not a strange thing, but most people don't like the smell. The butcher handed over the chopped bones and said: "Turn around the corner, the third stall is the mutton shop, theirs I guess there are channels."

"Okay, thank you, uncle."

Li Xiandong took the bones naturally, put them in his backpack, left the pork stall, and then asked: "Xiaohan, why do you want to eat goat's milk?"

"Dad, I heard that goat's milk is the most effective for growing taller, and it's also good for health. Our family raises a goat, and if we drink milk every day, our health will improve quickly."

"Sure." This reason is very good. As for whether it is true or false, Li Xiandong no longer doubts anything Li Xiaohan said.

Sure enough, after turning the corner, there was a mutton shop. The owner looked quite lean, not like a meat seller, but like a daily sheep farmer.

"If you want a ewe that has just given birth and is breastfeeding, you have to buy the lamb together, otherwise the lamb will have a hard time living."

"Can you see it now?" It's not impossible to raise a lamb. After all, the ewes can produce milk, and the lambs can eat meat when they grow up.

"I can't do it now. I'm outside the city. I'll have to do it tomorrow. If you can trust me, come tomorrow and I'll choose a mother and son for you. I am Lao Chen, a mutton lao Chen, whose family has been outside the city for three generations. We sell mutton in the Yangyang City. We have opened a shop here for ten years. We are doing this business that has been passed down by word of mouth. If you have any questions, you can come here and see me." Mutton Chen said to the two of them, and he too I want to make this deal happen.

Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong looked at each other. The main reason was that Li Xiaohan was not used to this kind of business where he couldn't see the real thing.

"How much?" This time it was Li Xiandong who spoke.

"Depending on the weight, it's about 500 Wen. It won't be too much more, and it won't be too much less."

"Okay, you can bring it over tomorrow. It's also this time. I won't harvest the sheep if they're not energetic."

"Okay. If you don't recognize me, I'll take it back myself." Sheep meat Chen said very nonchalantly. He was obviously very confident in his own sheep and didn't even ask for a deposit.

After agreeing to pick up the sheep at this time tomorrow, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong left the mutton stall.

"Dad, how can you be so sure that Mutton Chen will bring the ewes here tomorrow?" Li Xiaohan asked curiously. Although they are making more money now, in essence, Li Xiandong is still cautious and cautious. Too much of a personality.

"When I was selling straw sandals, I passed by this street several times, and the mutton stall had been there for a long time." Li Xiandong smiled simply.

"Oh." Li Xiaohan nodded. "Dad, can we come over again tomorrow?"

"I'll just come over tomorrow. Anyway, the wheat has just been planted, and the eucommia ulmoides in the mountains have almost been dug out. We won't go to the deep mountains without making money that could kill us at any time. You and your mother can fry the eucommia ulmoides at home. , our family can live a good life."

Li Xiaohan glanced at Li Xiandong and suddenly asked: "Dad, if we say that there is a real ginseng in the mountains behind us, and if you pick it, you will be rich and wealthy, but it is dangerous, will you try it?"

"Of course I won't go. I'm not stupid. I don't deserve my life even if I have money. Who did you listen to? Don't go secretly. I tell you, it's dangerous in the mountains. There are big, man-eating insects. Not to mention the big bear, the poisonous snakes and insects will kill you if you are not careful. You must not be curious or playful."

"I know, dad." Li Xiaohan smiled, "We are not stupid, our life is so good now, what are we going to the mountains for no reason to find someone who sells his life and wealth?"

"That's right. As long as you work hard, you will be able to get up this day."

"Xiaohan, let's buy whatever you want to eat?" Li Xiandong said generously when he came to a pastry shop.

Li Xiaohan looked at the dazzling array of pastries on the counter and couldn't tell which one was good.

"Man, which one of your pastries is your signature one? Can you recommend it?"

"Girl, all of our pastries are signatures and all of them are delicious." The pastry seller smiled, "But if it's suitable, I would recommend the brown sugar cake, red date cake and pastry pie."

Li Xiaohan heard the implication: brown sugar and red dates are suitable for women, and the pie should be bacon pie, suitable for men.

"Then buy half a catty of brown sugar cake and half a catty of pastry pie."

Have fun today, buy some snacks, and eat something delicious.

After buying pastries, I went to buy all kinds of groceries. For a new home, there are quite a lot of things to buy, especially in this city, where there are so many things to buy.

Shopping and shopping along the way, the Lis and their daughters spent their money like rich people.

Such a big deal all of a sudden, the key is that these two people don't look like rich people in their coarse cotton clothes. It seems that the poor suddenly become rich, and they can easily become the targets of some people.

No, when Li Xiandong and his daughter were shopping for goods, there was a young man with an initial in his mouth and a lazy step that looked very second-rate, but his true identity was indeed a second-rate. They followed behind, wondering where they could take down the country father and daughter with several brothers.

3 people, is that enough? It should be enough to deal with an old farmer. Not counting the little girl, who was probably crying with fear.

You can't do it in the city, you have to leave the city.

The street kid held the initials in his mouth and smiled.

=== Chapter === 35

The second-rate boy was thinking about how to rob Li Xiandong and Li Xiandong secretly and quickly. Suddenly, a seven or eight-year-old snot-nosed boy ran up to the second-rate boy, stopped the second-rate boy and said, "Fifth brother, the eldest brother asked you to go back."

"Go, go. I'm thinking about business." The second-rate man called Fifth Brother waved his hand impatiently.

"Brother said, I just won't let you do the business you want to do. Go back quickly, or I'll chop your hands off." After the snotty kid finished speaking loudly, he ran away.

"I think I have to chop your hands off!" The second-rate man was furious, but he couldn't catch up with the short but nimble Snot-nosed kid.

"This is my business...Oh, why am I stuck at this critical moment...Brother, why are you letting this snot-nosed baby come to deliver the message? What can the little baby understand..."

The second-rate man muttered, and after hesitating for a moment, he stopped, stamped his feet with regret, and went back in the opposite direction.

"Brother, what are you looking for me for? Let me tell you, I am eyeing a suddenly rich farmer. Although this kind of person cannot make a big fortune, it is safe. He is an old farmer with no background. Let's If you grab it, just grab it, there will be no trouble at all."

"Are you afraid that I will break the rules? I understand, our rules are not to steal people's life money. I have read it carefully. When farmers go to the medicine hall, they are selling medicine, not Seeking a doctor. Brother, let's go right now. I'm thinking of rushing out of the city now so I can catch up with the farmer."

The one called Big Brother, according to the status of this second-rate guy, should also be a gangster leader. Logically speaking, one either looks like a second-rate guy, who is arrogant and does not look like a good person; or one looks big and thick, with a body full of flesh.

The man named Big Brother was wearing a gray cotton coat. At first glance, he looked like a lean general. Only the occasional flash of nakedness showed that this young man was not easy to mess with. Not only did he rely on his physical strength, he also had an extremely clever mind.

After hearing what Lao Wu said, the elder brother was not angry and just said: "Lao Wu, do you know who you are targeting?"

"Who is it? Could it be that I made a mistake? Isn't this an old farmer?" Lao Wu wondered.

Impossible, his eyes would never be so wrong after seeing so many people.

"He is an old farmer, but not an ordinary old farmer." The eldest brother said, "Have you heard about the recent news from Pingshan Village that the bark of Eucommia bark can be sold for money?"

"I heard about it. Our brothers just delayed the news, otherwise the mountains and plains would be full of money. Look at those old farmers, they are extremely rich, and most people in the city can't afford that furniture."

"Did you know that the Eucommia tree was discovered by a farmer named Li Xiandong? Their family also taught these farmers free of charge how to harvest the Eucommia tree and how to fry the Eucommia bark."

"I know."

Lao Wu would say that this farmer was a bit stupid and generous. He would say that this exclusive windfall was given away to others in vain.

"I know what you are thinking? This food alone is not so delicious. The eucommia tree is too conspicuous, and he wants to devour it all to himself. And I heard that his stepmother is the head of the family, so there is a layer of filial piety. , the first-level clan suppressed them, and they had to give up even if they didn't want to. Look at him now, he is probably making a lot of money, has a great reputation, and is very popular. It is said that in the coming year, their family will teach others how to breed Eucommia ulmoides. In this way, If Li Xiandong was robbed and killed, would the Li clan, as well as those who have been treated well by their family, stand by and watch?"

"Probably not."

When it comes to our vital interests in the coming year, we certainly cannot sit idly by.

Besides, even if there is no interest at all, you cannot watch your own people and your benefactors being bullied without fighting back, otherwise you will be regarded as a weakling and a heartless coward.

"That's it. The person you are targeting today is Li Xiandong. You said you took action. Can we, a group of people, withstand the counterattack of these farmers?"

"I understand, brother."

There is no need to offend such a bunch of idiots.

Although one mud-legged person is not scary, a large group of mud-legged people cannot be ignored. They just collect protection fees and rob rich people, but they don't want to kill anyone, let alone their own lives.

"Go out, remember to warn the other brothers." The eldest brother said.

In fact, there are some things that the eldest brother did not say to the second-rater.

The Li family's method of frying Eucommia was learned from Renhetang. Most of the Eucommia was basically acquired by Renhetang. This Li Xiandong was invisibly connected to Renhetang.

Renhetang, but the dowry of Mrs. Zhang, the commander of Zhang Zhen under King Ding, the dowry of a woman, and the purchase of so many medicinal materials is very suspicious in itself.

There are rumors that all the medicines from Renhetang were eventually sent to the front line for use by her husband and eldest son. Using a woman's medicine to support her husband and son would challenge Mrs. Zhang's bottom line.

Then, I heard that Mrs. Zhang was in poor health recently, and Renhetang was taken over by the second young master.

The three most important things for a new official to take office are that it is said that the Second Young Master is a brilliant scholar and a gentle scholar. However, they have more information in private. Anyone who has really offended Second Young Master Zhang should be punished. It doesn't show up sometimes, but slowly, it will end up being very unlucky. How can such a person be looked down upon?

If Li Xiandong is touched, the eldest brother is not sure whether Renhetang will react.

They are just people who eat in the dark, and there is no need to have a hostile relationship with people in the officialdom.

Li Xiaohan did not expect that there were so many clues behind the Eucommia ulmoides found in his home. However, as a butterfly, after flapping his wings, Li Xiaohan flew away unconsciously and happily.

At this moment, Li Xiandong was driving the bullock cart, and Li Xiaohan was sitting behind, holding on to the cloth he bought, as he swayed all the way to Pingshan Village.

Halfway through, I suddenly found a familiar figure in front of me carrying a basket. There seemed to be two little doll heads protruding from both sides of the basket. Next to me, there was a woman carrying a basket on her back, which was filled with things.

Li Xiaohan squinted his eyes to identify them, and asked: "Dad, are they Uncle Dashan and Aunt Dashan in front of you?"

Aunt Dashan Li Xiaohan probably remembers that she was a very capable woman who learned how to stir-fry Eucommia ulmoides with her. Her personality was a bit like Mrs. Wang's. She was always working with her head down and didn't talk. If you let her take a break, she would just I will smile cautiously and then continue to do it.

If he could go with her, he would probably be Uncle Dashan. What's more, he seems to be carrying two little dolls.

"Yes." Li Xiandong recognized it and nodded in confirmation, "It's your Uncle Dashan."

Li Dashan learned to harvest eucommia bark from Li Xiandong. He was poor and talkative, but he worked quickly and spared no effort. Li Xiandong admires this kind of person.

After receiving his father's approval, Li Xiaohan shouted loudly, "Uncle Dashan, Aunt Dashan, wait a minute."

Sure enough, the two people walking in front stopped and turned their heads.

The ox cart quickly caught up with the pedestrians, and Li Dashan and the two people in front smiled honestly at Li Xiandong and the two people on the ox cart.

"Brother Xiandong."

"Niece Xiaohan."

"Big mountains."

Li Xiaohan was convinced and said hello: "Uncle Dashan, Aunt Dashan, please put the dolls and things in the car, and I will give you a ride."

As I got closer, I realized that there were indeed two little dolls sitting in the baskets on the left and right sides, so when looking from behind, most of their heads were exposed. He was about 6 or 7 years old. He was thin and looked at them with timid and curious eyes.

"Yes. Put the baby up." Li Xiandong suddenly realized what he said.

"Is this... going to be troublesome?" Li Dashan had an embarrassed look on his dark face.

"What's the trouble? You went to town to sell Eucommia ulmoides? Did you take the doll with you?" Li Xiandong stopped the cart and said, "Put the doll on."

Speaking of Eucommia ulmoides, Li Xiandong's voice actually carried a bit of authority, and Li Dashan was also obedient.

"Hey, yes, I sold Eucommia ulmoides before it gets cold. It's time to take the money and prepare for the winter." Li Dashan took the two little dolls out of the basket and put them on the ox cart, " Flowers and oxen, come to the oxcart and be obedient."

Li Xiaohan had already made room and smiled warmly at the two little babies. The older sister opened her mouth and smiled at Li Xiaohan, showing a smile with two front teeth missing. The younger brother nestled curiously in his sister's arms.

They are two cute little kids, except they are a little thinner.

"Aunt Dashan, please put the backpack up as well." Li Xiaohan continued to greet her.

"No, no need." Li Dashan quickly waved his hand and put the full basket on his back, while Aunt Dashan picked up the empty basket.

"I can carry it on my back, don't tire the cow."

Li Xiaohan's mouth twitched slightly, forgetting that cows were more valuable than people at this time.

Obviously Li Xiandong also agreed with this truth. He whipped the bamboo whip lightly and the ox cart started slowly again. Li Xiaohan gave up persuading.

The oxcart moved slowly, and Li Dashan and his wife followed quickly on both sides without having to carry the baby on their backs. It's just that the adults didn't speak.

"What are your names?" Li Xiaohan asked softly. In fact, he already knew that the siblings were called Huaer Niuer, but according to Li Xiaohan's limited knowledge-in Li Xiaohan's impression of his previous life Yes, the first step in communicating with children should be to ask them their names.

"Sister Xiaohan, my name is Hua'er, and my brother's name is Niu'er."

"You know my name is Xiaohan?"

"Yes." The little girl nodded heavily with her eyes wide open, "I know. Mom often says at home that Sister Xiaohan is very powerful. Let me learn from Sister Xiaohan and become a powerful person in the future."

Li Xiaohan's old face turned red. He didn't expect that his reputation had spread out. He glanced at Aunt Dashan next to him. He didn't expect that the taciturn Aunt Dashan would actually tell her children this when she returned home.

Aunt Dashan's face was particularly unnatural. Because of the darkness, she couldn't tell if she was blushing. She just avoided her eyes and lowered her head to her chest. She didn't dare to make any eye contact with Li Xiaohan.

"Sister Xiaohan, when I grow up, can I learn how to fry Eucommia ulmoides from you?" At this time, the little girl called Hua'er said again: "My mother said that you are the best at frying Eucommia ulmoides. I want to learn it." the best."

"Okay. When you are old enough to stand on the stove, come and learn from me." Li Xiaohan said generously.

"I want to learn too." At this time, Niu'er, who had been silent next to him, suddenly said.

"Okay, you come too." Li Xiaohan smiled and reassured.

The children chirped and quacked together, but the adults didn't speak, but raised the corners of their mouths slightly.

However, a sudden cooing sound broke the harmony.

Li Xiaohan looked over curiously and saw the youngest Niu'er covering her belly with her little hands, her wide eyes watery.

"Look, I told you to eat more when you go out in the morning, but you only eat a little bit if you say you're not hungry. Look, you're embarrassed." Hua'er pretended to be mature and sighed.

The tears in Niu'er's eyes became more obvious.

Woohoo, I'm embarrassed in front of my adoring sister Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan smiled softly and reached into the basket beside him. He was about to open the snacks he bought, but in his mind, he turned around and took out the cakes that Wang had baked for the father and daughter in the morning.

"Here, sister, I'll treat you to some snacks." As soon as the dough with the aroma of grain and oil was taken out, the cow's cooing became louder.

"No, no need. Niu'er needs some water to hold on for a while. We'll be home soon." Aunt Dashan next to her awkwardly took out a worn-out water bag and waved her hand in refusal.

Niu'er looked at his own mother and didn't dare to pick it up.

"Aunt Dashan, you don't have to refuse politely. This is the multigrain pancake made by my mother, not bought. Let your younger brothers and sisters have a taste of my family's craftsmanship."

"This..." Aunt Dashan looked embarrassed. She should have brought some dry food in the morning, but it was just the first time she took two children out of the city. She temporarily forgot that children are not as patient as adults. Answer it, I'm sorry, don't answer it, I can't bear to look at my child.

"If Aunt Dashan still feels sorry for you, just bring us vegetable seeds when you go back. I heard that Aunt Dashan is good at growing vegetables, so she must keep them well. You also know that my family has just moved here, so many vegetables have grown. There's no way to save seeds."

Sure enough, as soon as these words were spoken, Aunt Dashan felt relieved, "Hey, okay, okay. I have all the vegetables I usually eat at home."

"Then I'll trouble Aunt Dashan." Li Xiaohan smiled very sincerely.

Just like the sun in the sky, bright and warm. Later Niu'er and Hua'er recalled this day and said.

"Come on, Niu'er, take one, and Hua'er, take one too."

The two children looked up at their mother and saw Aunt Dashan smiling cautiously and nodding. Finally, they stretched out their hands to take a piece of palm-sized cake and put it in their mouths.

"Wow, Sister Xiaohan's cakes are delicious."

"That's right. Then eat one more piece."

Wang may have a talent for cooking, coupled with Li Xiaohan's theoretical guidance, and Dr. Zhang's advice to supplement more, he is very willing to use oil and ingredients, so his level is different from the past. It can be said that he has made rapid progress and conquered. These two kids are no big deal.

The oxcart separated at the three-way intersection in the village. The two children were very reluctant to part with her. Sister Xiaohan was kind, beautiful, and knowledgeable. Her image in their minds was already infinitely higher.

It happened that the oxcart delivering furniture caught up here, and we had to leave no matter how reluctant we were to leave.

Li Xiaohan was quite surprised by the delivery speed of this ancient merchant. At this speed, they probably found an ox cart to deliver the goods as soon as they left home. It's true that it's coming soon.

In fact, the merchants are afraid that they will regret it. This furniture is really good, but it is so good that it has never been sold. Rich people find someone to customize it themselves, but poor people can't afford it.

The boss almost smashed the store because it was too easy, so he sent it to Li Xiandong quickly, for fear that Li Xiandong would wake up and regret it.

=== Chapter === 36

When Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong arrived home, Mrs. Wang was washing and cleaning at home. It was the festival and she had to tidy up.

Wang's eyes were stunned when she saw Li Xiandong leading the delivery boy and a room full of furniture through the door.

Li Xiandong and his clerk moved the things into the hall and placed the furniture properly. The clever clerk praised, "Sir, your new house is the style of the city, and it should use the furniture of the city. Look, How appropriate."

After seeing off the bullock cart and the waiters, Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang looked at their house and couldn't come back to their senses for a moment: the grand desk, the steady Eight Immortals table, pairs of chairs, and the originally empty hall was filled to the brim. , this home has changed into a different feeling.

The man is right, my new home should be equipped with furniture from the city.

Li Xiandong nodded and said to Mrs. Wang, "Sweep this furniture and I'll return the clan leader's oxcart."

"Hey." Wang responded.

The old rags at home should never be used on this new furniture. After turning it for a while, Wang carefully used a new straw broom to carefully sweep away the floating dust on it.

I cut a new rag and wiped it carefully, for fear of smearing the paint on the wood.

Li Xiaohan was lying on a chair. He felt very happy while shopping, but after finishing the shopping, he was so tired that he collapsed.

She didn't understand why Li Xiandong was still so excited now. A set of furniture, maybe it's the same as modern people buying a house?

The more Wang cleaned, the more obsessed she became with this set of furniture.

Look at this grand and steady luster, this thick paint surface, this exquisite carving... Wang didn't know any adjectives, she just felt that it was great to be rich, and she didn't expect that she could live such a good life.

After properly cleaning every inch of the furniture, no trace of dust can be seen. Mrs. Wang stood admiring it for a while, then spread out the fine cotton cloth she bought and took a closer look.

It was easy to distinguish the cloths she bought. The indigo one was definitely for Li Xiandong, the goose yellow one was for Li Xiaohan, and the rest, no matter how hard it was to believe, Wang knew that they were for her.

Carefully stroking the soft cotton, Wang was afraid that the calluses on her hands would get caught. In her life, she only wore a red dress when she got married, and she never thought she would wear dark red muslin again.

Touching the goose-yellow muslin again, she felt that the fabric was indeed finer and brighter in color. Wang was already thinking about what kind of clothes to cut for Li Xiaohan.

She is 13 years old, and she will be a big girl in two years. It is time to make some nice clothes.

Her life is not bad, her daughter's life is better than mine. so good!

When Li Xiaohan saw Wang's appearance, he had mixed feelings for a moment. I have some feelings, but it's hard to put into words.

Some people have experienced bitterness and cannot easily believe that they can enjoy this sweetness.

For no reason, Li Xiaohan thought of his wardrobe full of clothes in his previous life. He didn't seem to have such a sense of happiness at that time.

However, having enough food and clothing is the most basic need that Li Xiaohan believes that everyone has, no matter what era they are in.

Therefore, there is still some distance between me and my ideal life. The revolution has not yet succeeded, and comrades still need to work hard.

Putting aside these messy feelings, Li Xiaohan returned to reality. When he thought that these cloths had to be washed before he could wear them, Li Xiaohan didn't want to move anymore. He missed the washing machine in his previous life.

"Mom, dad, do we have enough money to build a well? If we have enough, just build a well. With a well, everything will be convenient."

There is no free washing machine, running water is temporarily unavailable, and private wells can be put on the schedule.

After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, Li Xiandong remembered that the public well in his village was far away and it was really inconvenient to use water, especially when washing Eucommia ulmoides. Now that his family was rich, he said generously, "Okay, I will find someone to come tomorrow." Beat it, otherwise it will be difficult to break ground when it freezes. Wait a moment, I will pick up a few loads of water, and you and your mother will wash it again."

After Li Xiandong finished fetching water, he went to the fields to do farm work. It was rare that I didn't go up the mountain today, so I took the opportunity to clear the weeds in the fields. The work in the fields cannot be delayed any longer.

Li Xiaohan and Wang were in the house, continuing to wash, cut and process the Eucommia bark. Farmers have no free time all day long. But thinking of his new silver, Li Xiaohan was full of energy.

The two women were working and talking quietly when they suddenly heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" It's almost time for dinner.

"Sister-in-law, it's me, the Dashan family." It was Aunt Dashan's voice that came from outside the door.

Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows when he heard this. It was quite early.

Here, the Wang family opened the door and welcomed people in.

"What did you bring?"

"Niece Xiaohan said that you have just moved, and there is not enough time at home to plant vegetables. I will bring you some, which are all vegetables that were left at home. I also brought you some vegetables by the way, which were grown at home. , not worth much money." Aunt Dashan smiled cautiously.

As the words fell, Li Dashan put down the burden on his shoulders. One load, two baskets, full of vegetables.

This is not a little bit. This is a lot.

And although they are all common mustard greens, spinach, turnips, etc., they are neatly and cleanly packed, which is obviously a lot of thought.

Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows and looked at the couple. Although she said on the road that there were no vegetables, she had a feeling of pity for the two little babies, and she also vaguely wanted to leave an introduction for her mother to socialize - there was no other way, Mrs. Zhao and others The aunts who came to learn arts were too strong, and Wang could not hold her head high in front of them. This is not good for Wang, who has been suppressed.

Aunt Dashan is a rare person who does not have such a strong personality and is even somewhat similar to Wang. If Wang wants to open up social contacts and gradually cultivate her ideas, it is better to get along with such a less aggressive person first. .

Now looking at the two baskets of vegetables on the ground, it seems that these two people deserve to have a closer relationship.

Just as Li Xiaohan was thinking about it, two children came out from behind Mrs. Wang, holding spinach, "Sister Xiaohan, here you go, this is what we picked."

"Really? Thank you so much. I like it very much." Li Xiaohan knelt down, took the two cabbages, and said with a smile.

But here, Mrs. Wang couldn't wait for Li Xiaohan's reply for a long time, so she could only pretend to be calm and socialize, "Just bring a vegetable seed. Why did you bring so many vegetables?"

"I grew them all myself, so I don't pay for them. Now that my family has earned money from the sales of Eucommia ulmoides, I have bought real food in the city, and there are less vegetables to eat. It will be the beginning of winter the day after tomorrow, so I will feed Brother Xiandong and my sisters-in-law Please send me some thoughts."

After Aunt Dashan said these words, she felt strange: Why is it so awkward to give a gift to a dish that she cannot eat at home? The more he spoke, the lower his voice became.

If Li Xiaohan knew what Aunt Dashan was thinking, he would definitely feel familiar: it is exactly the same as Wang's, unconfident, habitually belittling himself, obviously with good intentions, but he is afraid that others will not accept it, and he is afraid of giving it to others. People bring trouble.

As for the Wang family, they suddenly didn't know how to respond: Someone actually gave gifts to their family. They had always been the only ones to give gifts to respected elders.

Still Li Xiaohan couldn't stand it: "Mom, just put it away. Hua'er Niu'er likes the cakes you bake. Our family just has cakes tonight, so you can teach Aunt Dashan a lesson. Aunt Dashan will also do it in the future." It's good to bake for the flowers and cows to eat. And dad, take Uncle Dashan with you to see our eucommia seeds. These seeds cannot be preserved well and will affect their germination next year."

Li Xiaohan's words have arranged the four adults properly. Aunt Dashan wants to teach her children how to make pancakes, Dashan wants to learn how to preserve Eucommia seeds, and Li Xiandong can teach people to build confidence. Wang has a reason After collecting the vegetables, we started socializing.

It's just like going back and forth. You come and I go back and forth, and you gradually get used to it.

As for the two little ones, "You two, follow me."

I can only take care of one child. Fortunately, Huaerniuer is not that ignorant child.

In the evening, Aunt Dashan's family had learned the art of pancakes and preserving Eucommia ulmoides seeds. They refused to stay for dinner no matter what. The family of four brought the pancakes sent by Wang, but Wang said they would not take the vegetables if they didn't take them back. Under the threat, he took the pancakes and thanked him again before leaving.

"We are here to deliver vegetables to Brother Xiandong's family, how come we are taking advantage again?" Aunt Dashan said uneasily.

"Brother Xiandong is a kind man. We must remember this kindness from now on." Dashan was silent for a while and finally came up with something.

"Yeah, yeah." Aunt Dashan quickly nodded in agreement, "Hua'er, Niu'er, you have to remember the kindness of Uncle Xiandong's family, do you understand?"

"I know," the two children said crisply, "Sister Xiaohan is the best. I will be as powerful as Sister Xiaohan in the future."

Dashan and his wife thought about it and felt that they were extremely satisfied to be able to be just like Xiaohan's niece, even half of it.

Li Dashan's family here felt that they had taken advantage of it, and Li Xiaohan's family felt that it was pretty good too.

Anyway, when Wang was teaching pancakes and when Li Xiandong was teaching Eucommia ulmoides to be dried, they could speak clearly and clearly, and their waists began to straighten, and their attitude gradually emerged.

As for Li Xiaohan himself, "Mom, there are so many vegetables that I won't be able to eat them all in a while. It's almost winter. Let's pickle these vegetables tomorrow."

In winter, when vegetables are scarce, pickles are also a home-cooked delicacy.

"become."

Early the next morning, Li Xiandong went to the city early again. He had to find the well digger and buy back the dairy goat ordered by Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan and Wang started to pickle sauerkraut.

Remove the outer green leaves from the large, soft cabbage, and wash the remaining green and white tender core, hang it on a hemp rope, and drain away the water.

First cut out the plump and round reeds, then wash them with straw and put them on a dustpan to dry.

The reed tassels are also carefully washed and hung on a hemp rope to drain the water. This is another dish.

The tender green courgettes were cleaned with straw and the burr pedicles were cleaned. Because Li Xiaohan liked to eat them crispy and sour, he cut them into finger-knuckle-sized strips.

It can be seen from this that the Dashan family is a real person, and the vegetables sent here are perfect for pickling.

Tu Tao's pickled vegetable jars had not yet been cleaned, but the door of Li's house had been opened, and Li Xiandong came back with two sheep, one big and one small.

"Ah, this is the milk-producing sheep. It looks really good." Li Xiaohan looked at the sheep like he was looking at his various dairy products and desserts, and he liked it very much.

"Dad, have you learned how to milk goats from that mutton Chen?" The Li family has never raised goats, so Li Xiandong can only learn how to milk goats by himself.

"I learned it." Li Xiandong handed Li Xiaohan an earthen pot the size of a soup pot, "The mutton Chen knew that you bought the ewe for goat milk, so he specially brought a can in the morning."

"It's really good." Li Xiaohan took it and had something to eat at noon today. "Dad, Mom, look after me today."

While cleaning the large earthenware vat, Mrs. Wang smiled and watched Li Xiaohan rush into the kitchen, feeling that her daughter was lively and cute.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiaohan turned around and said to Mrs. Wang, "Mom, we don't have old salt water for pickling sauerkraut at home. You can go to someone else's house and get some, so that the sauerkraut will be delicious."

Mrs. Wang looked suffocated and hesitated, "This...where can I get this?"

My daughter is very good, but I don't know why she acts like an old woman sometimes, always controlling her and letting her deal with other people.

"How about giving up that old salt water?" Wang hesitated for a while and asked with hope.

"No, mother." Li Xiaohan's voice came out from the kitchen decisively, "Without the old salt water as a primer, the pickled sauerkraut will not be strong enough. This is not a valuable thing. Mother, go to Uncle Zhao and ask for one. Bowl, you can go to Aunt Dashan's house and ask for a bowl."

As for interpersonal communication, it can only begin when there is going back and forth. If there are conditions, we must do it; if there are no conditions, we must do it even if there are no conditions.

"Oh... okay." Wang whispered, her eyes lit up when she saw Li Xiandong standing aside, "Dad, will you come with me?"

Li Xiandong winced, immediately put down the bowl of water in his hand, and pretended to be busy, "Oh, I have to build a sheepfold for this sheep later, and I have to fill it with water. I'm too busy. Mother, baby. , I won't accompany you, you can go alone."

Mrs. Wang looked at Li Xiandong resentfully, but Li Xiandong was unmoved. He first led the sheep to the backyard, and then, on legs like hot wheels, he went to the village well with a load to fetch water.

Wang had no choice but to finish painting the large earthenware vat, and finally decided to go to Dashan's house to ask for a bowl of old salt water.

By the time Wang's Old Salt Water comes back, Li Xiaohan's almond milk tea has been cooked.

Put fresh goat's milk and a little tea leaves together to make a cup of tea, then take out the tea leaves, add ground almond flour, then pour in a little glutinous rice flour slurry to increase the consistency, bring to a boil over low heat and stir continuously until The aroma of almond and goat's milk is blended into a more intense aroma, and finally a little sugar and ginger juice are added.

Drinking this sweet and slightly spicy bowl in late autumn and early winter will bring a sense of warmth from your stomach until your limbs feel lazily warm.

"This is really delicious." Wang said with admiration after finishing a bowl. "It's much better than the dim sum bought from dim sum shops in the city."

"No." Li Xiandong finished one bowl and added another. At this time, there is no saying that men don't like sweets. Life is barren, and men, women, old people and children all like that little bit of sweetness from the bottom of their hearts.

"It's delicious." Li Xiaohan lowered his head and savored the familiar taste. "This thing just doesn't last. If you don't finish it today, it will go bad tomorrow. Dad, you brought back too much. You can fill a bowl with me later." Third uncle, give another bowl to your second uncle and grandfather."

Li Xiandong's expression froze, it was his turn.

"Baby's father, you go ahead." Wang said coolly, "This is our filial piety."

=== Chapter === 37

October 14th is the beginning of winter.

In Pingshan Village, Beginning of Winter is a medium-sized festival. The beginning of winter means that the autumn harvest has passed, and it is time to prepare for the coming of winter and store food.

Early in the morning, I had breakfast.

A bowl of hot goat's milk is now a must-have for the Li family. Depending on the ingredients in the kitchen, you can add almond flour, chestnut flour, eggs, red dates and longans. The choice is different every day.

A bowl of this sweet, hot and fragrant dish will start your morning in a good mood.

Today's staple food is red bean milk-flavored steamed buns, served with goat's milk egg custard, millet porridge stewed with a layer of rice oil, and served with sour, tender and crisp pickled courgettes.

Don't be too happy on this day.

After breakfast, Mrs. Wang put away the dishes and chopsticks. Li Xiaohan took out the Eucommia seeds and put them under the eaves to ventilate and dry. Li Xiandong consciously filled the water tank - the master who dug the well had not come yet, and Li Xiandong felt more and more self-conscious. It is necessary to drill a well in your home.

After finishing this, Wang stayed at home and sewed new bedding, while Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan carried their belongings on their backs and prepared to go to the mountains to see how the first batch of Panax notoginseng seedlings were growing.

The father and daughter came to the mountain together. Li Xiaohan squatted down first and observed carefully: some of the fast-growing seedlings were already palm-high, and even had five small leaves, while a small number of weak ones were pitiful. One or two leaves that were too weak to resist the wind shivered in the cold wind.

These weak seedlings may not be able to survive the coming cold winter. This is how nature is, the fittest survive and the unfit are eliminated.

Even so, Li Xiaohan still watered each seedling carefully, hoping to grow stronger before winter and spend this winter as successfully as possible.

After pouring the water, Li Xiaohan straightened up and said, "Dad, I asked you to tell the clan leader earlier that our family is going to buy mountain land. Have you told the clan leader?"

Next spring, the seedlings cultivated from Panax notoginseng seeds in the family vegetable field will need to be transplanted, and the collected Eucommia tree seeds will need to be sown. The mountainous land allocated to Li Xiandong in the Guang clan is no longer enough.

"I've said it. The clan leader said that he has sent the documents to the head of the village, but there have been a lot of things lately, and there are many people selling Eucommia ulmoides to make money and want to buy land. The head of the village is going to wait and get the seal from the Yamen together after the festival. ."

In fact, even the village manager is making a fortune by harvesting Eucommia ulmoides, and he has no time to go to the Yamen every now and then to register paperwork. Who is responsible for the money lost back and forth? The village manager doesn't mind that the money is too much.

"That's OK. I'm thinking that next spring when Panax notoginseng needs to be divided and Eucommia ulmoides needs to be sown, we need to buy more mountain land. When the time comes, we can plant Panax notoginseng under the Eucommia trees. This combination is just right."

"Yeah." Li Xiandong nodded in agreement.

His daughter has grown valuable medicinal materials such as Panax notoginseng, and Eucommia ulmoides can definitely do the same.

And if you have money, don't you just buy land? There is no good farmland to buy near Pingshan Village, but the mountains are not bad either.

The lessons taught by our ancestors are unmistakable. It is best to buy land because your hope is in the land.

The two of them carefully watered the Panax notoginseng seedlings and then prepared to pick the fruits.

About twenty fruit trees were planted on the mountain land allocated to Li Xiandong by the clan.

The most popular ones are persimmons. This kind of tree is easy to grow regardless of the location or people. It can also be dried into persimmons and stored for a whole winter. It is very honorable to give gifts and entertain guests before and after the Chinese New Year;

Next is the jujube tree. The jujubes can be dried and stored for a long time. They are still sweet and are liked by city people and can be sold at a high price.

Finally, there are the pear trees. The pear trees in Pingshan Village bear fruit late and are suitable for making frozen pears in winter.

Just the fruits from the mountains can provide Li Xiandong and his family with fruits all year round and dry goods for the New Year.

Frugal families pick and choose the best fruits to be sold in the city, leaving only a little bit for themselves, which is a considerable amount of income throughout the year.

Although it is possible to grow enough food without fields, mountains are also excellent.

"Dad, pass me the bamboo tube you made." Li Xiaohan stood up and looked at the tall persimmon tree and said.

Li Xiaohan, who awakened the memory of his past life, discovered that at this time, people still managed fruit trees in an extensive way—topping and picking branches was not done because they thought it would damage the trees.

As a result, the fruit trees in the village are particularly tall and strong as long as they are old. For example, the tree in front of me should be the persimmon tree planted by Li Xiandong when he was a child. It is not an exaggeration to say that its crown is like clouds.

In the past, when people in Pingshan Village picked fruits, they had to climb up the branches, carefully pick the fruits by hand, then fill them with cloth bags and hang them with hemp ropes.

In this way, you can avoid scratching the fruit as much as possible, and you can sell it at a good price when you go to the city, or you can visit relatives and friends to give gifts, and it will look decent.

It's just that, people must be extremely careful. If they accidentally step on the dead branches or slip under their feet and fall down, it is no joke.

After being reborn, Li Xiaohan didn't want anyone in his family to fall from the tree. Moreover, they have a small family. If they want to look like that, they will be able to pick them in the year of the monkey and the month of the horse.

"Here you go." Li Xiandong took out a bamboo pole tube, which was actually a long bamboo pole. One end was broken open and woven into a shape that could hold two or three fist-sized fruits. There was also a layer of rags inside.

This is a fruit picker that was popular in the past life (open Taobao and search for "fruit picker" to see the real thing). The medicinal forest base where Li Xiaohan works has several styles bought from Taobao, including ones for picking dates and ones for picking autumn pears. Each is different. However, in this era, Li Xiaohan could only instruct Li Xiandong to weave one for himself out of bamboo. In fact, this thing is not difficult, but I don't know why it has not been discovered by the wisdom of the masses in this life.

It may be that people of this era cherish all the harvests that can be imported too much and can only spend them on themselves.

"Why do you want me to do this?" Li Xiandong asked in confusion.

"I wanted to see if there was a way to make it easier to pick the fruit."

Li Xiaohan took the bamboo tube, erected the bamboo pole, pointed it at a persimmon on the branch, pulled it, the branch became empty, and the fruit fell steadily into the bamboo tube.

The fruit picker is ready.

There was a rag inside the tube, so the fruit wasn't scratched at all.

Li Xiaohan smiled broadly and picked three more persimmons in a row. He didn't notice that Li Xiandong next to him was stunned: There is such an ingenuity in this world. Just this small bamboo tube used to be dangerous and tiring. The fruit picking problem was solved in this way.

"Dad, it's done." Li Xiaohan turned her head and realized that her father seemed to be unable to come to his senses.

"Dad, why don't you try it." Li Xiaohan smiled and handed over the fruit picker.

Li Xiandong imitated Li Xiaohan. He was not very skilled at it at first, but after a while, he picked a persimmon easily.

"This thing is really magical." Li Xiandong touched the fruit picker and sighed.

After trying it, there was no doubt anymore. The two of them worked together and picked a basket full of fruit in less than an hour.

"Okay, Xiaohan, let's go back. You carry the empty bucket, and dad carries the fruit."

"Hey, Dad."

When Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan returned home, Wang asked strangely, "Why are you back so soon?"

"Mom, we used a fruit picker and it picked very quickly. Let's go pick it together after the festival."

"Okay." Mrs. Wang didn't ask why the fruit picker was so useful. Her daughter was smart. And if the two fathers and daughters came back safely, I would be relieved.

"Dad, since the fruit picker is so easy to use, you can make up a few more and send them to the homes of my grandfather, the clan leader, and my third uncle, as a way of honoring their elders."

After figuring out that it was best for his family of three to be tied to the big ship of the clan, Li Xiaohan spared no effort to increase the influence and importance of his family in the clan. As for the grandfather, it was just a matter of course. This kind of trivial matter was regarded as a way to build up his reputation as a filial piety.

"Okay." Li Xiandong put down the fruit and picked up the Mi Dao. He could make several of these gadgets in less than half an hour.

Li Xiaohan picked up the wooden tray, filled the water tank with water, cleaned the persimmons, etc., and then placed them in the fruit basket to dry the water.

"Dad, have you made an appointment to dig a well? When?" Li Xiaohan wanted to use water freely, not to mention tap water. At least he could have free well water.

"We made an appointment. The well-drilling master said he would come over tomorrow after the festival."

"Very good."

While several people were talking, their hands did not stop and they quickly finished the work.

About half an hour later, Li Xiandong picked up a few fruit pickers and went out. Li Xiaohan arranged the pears and dates, took out a knife, and began to peel the persimmons.

The yellow persimmon skin is cut into strips of uniform thickness and size, spinning around in circles and finally falling down.

Li Xiaohan picked the ripest and plump fruit, cut the pulp into pieces, gave a piece to Wang who was making noodles, and then took a bite himself, "Yeah, crispy, sweet."

Mrs. Wang smiled slightly at the side. In the past, her family of three could only take a look at the fruits at home. They had to taste a piece or two, sell them for money, give them as gifts, keep them for the New Year and entertain guests... and then celebrate the New Year. It seems that I didn't eat it when I was young, and the fruit of the last year was gone.

"You can eat as much as you like. You can eat as much or as little as you like. This year, we will keep all the fruits for ourselves." Wang made a rare and generous decision.

"Hey, mother." Li Xiaohan responded loudly.

Because he ate too much fruit, he didn't have much stomach to eat at noon, and Li Xiaohan felt a little ashamed.

But if I were to do it all over again, I would choose this way again - mainly because Wang was on the side and kept letting Li Xiaohan eat more, which satisfied not only Li Xiaohan's appetite, but also Wang's mental addiction. Everything just goes as planned.

Fortunately, the best meals are in the evening.

In the evening the sun sets, the sky becomes dark, the evening breeze blows gently, and the tired birds return to their nests.

Li Xiaohan stood in the hall, watching Li Xiandong standing on the stool and lighting the candle in the lantern. The hazy red light gently illuminated the surroundings. This night seemed to have the warmth of the lights, warming people's hearts.

Li Xiaohan was in a daze for a while.

It was the same in my previous life. Every time during traditional festivals, my parents would hang up red lanterns and put up window grilles, which were bright red.

My father is a very ritualistic person, and my mother sometimes says that not every festival is a Chinese New Year, so it should always be like a Chinese New Year.

Dad would argue, because we live life and remember these important moments, not holidays.

Later, when I was in college, my parents went on a geological survey and encountered a mudslide, killing both of them.

The last text message, "Xiaohan, mom and dad love you. Promise your parents to live a good life!" became the final farewell and reminder.

I was indeed alive and well, but later on I had no one to celebrate and commemorate my life with.

Is it Zhuang Zhou who dreams of a butterfly, or Zhuang Zhou who dreams of a butterfly? Is it Li Xiaohan or Li Xiaohan?

"How is it? Is it corrected?" Li Xiandong asked.

"That's right, it looks good." Li Xiaohan replied with a loud smile.

Live a good life.

"Come for dinner."

For dinner, Wang cooked white rice, stewed fresh mushroom chicken soup, braised pork ribs, steamed bacon, roasted fish, and fried vegetables. The three of them sat at the dinner table.

"Dad, Mom, this year is the first time our family celebrates the festival together. I am drinking tea instead of wine. I wish our family will get better and better in the future." Li Xiaohan picked up a cup of tea, stood up with a smile, and faced Li Xiandong and Wang made a gesture, flipped their hands and drank the whole drink in one gulp.

"Good! Good! Getting better and better, getting better and better."

Li Xiandong's face turned red, with excitement in his eyes, and he drank out of a cup of tea.

Wang, on the other hand, smiled and said nothing, looked at the two father and daughter, and silently gave them a piece of ribs.

Early on the next morning, the 15th, the originally agreed well digger hadn't arrived yet, but the villagers had.

It turned out that everyone heard that Li Xiandong had come up with a convenient and safe fruit picker, so they all came to watch the fun.

It has just passed the beginning of winter, and everyone is too embarrassed to come here empty-handed. Besides, in the past ten days, more or less people in Pingshan Village have made a fortune because of Eucommia ulmoides. The well-to-do man came over with a pack of snacks bought in the city. The less well-to-do man saved his own money, so he came over with some fruits from his own house.

A group of cheering people gathered around Li Xiandong to look at the bamboo tube of the fruit-picking utensil.

"How do you use this thing?"

"Just hold the bamboo pole and use the bamboo tube to aim at the fruit, twist it hard, and the fruit will fall into the bamboo tube."

The principle of this thing is really simple. The smart ones understood it within a moment, while the crude ones couldn't figure out the principle, but they felt it was feasible.

Besides, it doesn't matter if you don't understand. This bamboo tube looks simple. If you look at it a few times and think about it in your mind, those of you who have been making dustpans, bamboo baskets, and backpacks all year round will soon be able to figure it out. Make it up. After making it up, try it and you will understand everything.

However, this was something that Li Xiandong came up with first, so it was not authentic to learn it so quietly.

For a moment, it was a bit difficult to speak.

Li Deyou, Li Xinhe and others who were friends with Li Xiandong did not come today. In terms of seniority and friendship, these people weighed themselves in their hearts and did not feel that they had the nerve to say such a thing.

Finally, it was an older man in the crowd who was wearing poor clothes who came forward and asked, "Xian Dong, you fruit picker, can you teach us all a lesson?"

"What's the point? It's not something difficult. You can understand it after just a quick look." Li Xiandong said generously, "This is the only one. I thought about it when I was using it yesterday. This bamboo tube is made of A shape with a big belly and a closed mouth may hold a little more."

"No, that's exactly the truth." Someone in the audience immediately cheered, "Xiandong, you are still thoughtful."

"What's the point? This is not something I came up with. This thing was originally thought up by my daughter Xiaohan. You see, she also came up with the idea of putting a thin layer of rags inside, so that it can be used even when picking fruits. The skin won't be scratched."

"Oh, niece Xiaohan has such a clever mind." Someone who was smart immediately cheered.

"That's right. She is indeed a daughter of our Li family. She is ambitious and capable. Our mother-in-law learned from Xiaohan how to cook Eucommia ulmoides. She went back and burned three pots of it, but I can't say that I am heartbroken. She has been talking about it for more than ten years. I have mastered the cooking skills. I heard that Sister Xiaohan only listened to the doctor from the medicine hall and figured it out on her own. How can she be so capable?"

"How can your family compare with Xiaohan? Our family also burned three pots. Fortunately, I listened to Xiaohan's niece and put less in front, so the loss was not so much. I said, why don't you let me go? "

Li Xiaohan was on the side, looking slightly embarrassed. She couldn't get used to such direct and rough appreciation for a while.

"Li Zhuzhu, stop talking. My sister-in-law said it. You are confident. You did it yourself. You didn't waste three pots. You only fried one pot, and it was all burnt. You said less when I asked you to put it in. No problem, one pot is worth three pots per person." Someone in the crowd said in disbelief.

"Li Dunzi, do you still think that I am your brother?"

"Hahaha." The crowd laughed. I made money and learned new tricks, and my life was promising.

The old man at the beginning was staring straight at the fruit picker, with a faint glimmer of water in his eyes, but he disappeared after a while, making people feel dazzled for a moment.

This group of people discussed for a long time, and then dispersed. It happened to be the time to pick fruits and store them for the New Year, so I went back and made this fruit picker to try picking fruits.

When a group of people left, Li Xiaohan noticed that the man he asked at the beginning was slightly lame when walking.

"Dad, who is that person asking you?" Li Xiaohan asked quietly after making sure the crowd had gone away.

"That's your Uncle Dashu." Li Xiandong sighed and said, "Your Uncle Dashu and Aunt Dashu were hard-working people back then, and they planted many fruit trees at home. About ten years ago, your Uncle Dashu climbed trees to pick them. The fruit fell, and your aunt Dashu ran to catch it, but she was hit hard."

Ah, it turned out like this, "What happened next?"

"Your Uncle Dashu dragged his injured leg down and asked for help. He went to see the doctor from Renhetang. Aunt Dashu was hit so hard that her internal organs started to bleed. Even ginseng could not save her. Uncle Dashu was injured. The legs later became what you see now."

According to ancient medical technology, Li Xiaohan already had a bad premonition, but he didn't expect the ending to be so tragic, and he felt pity for a moment.

The whole room was quiet.

After a long while, Mrs. Wang finally said, "Dashu's family is right next door to ours, but I have no impression of him at all."

"After Aunt Dashu left, Uncle Dashu's temperament changed a lot. He hasn't married again in these years, and his two sons, eldest and second, haven't married yet. You guys haven't had the chance to interact with each other."

"That's not right. How do they fry their Eucommia bark? No man has ever come to learn from me." Li Xiaohan asked doubtfully.

Although they are members of the same clan, there are still distinctions between men and women, and in addition to the skill of cooking on the stove, the clan has a tacit understanding of sending the head woman over to learn the skills.

Don't just sell eucommia bark that has not been roasted just because of this.

Li Xiandong frowned and thought for a while, then said: "It seems that I paid your Aunt Dashan to fire me. Dashan Dashu is my cousin."

Li Xiaohan didn't know whether to breathe a sigh of relief or sigh. But yes, the Li clan members are all relatives for several generations, and my father and the clan leader are still cousins.

"You are young, don't sigh. I didn't expect it yesterday. Today, when your uncle asked, I will tell you the method directly. This is to accumulate virtue for you and bless you with success in the future."

"Well, Dad, I understand."

Although he said he didn't sigh, Li Xiaohan was still shocked by this incident.

For a moment, I felt in a trance that being able to live healthily in this era was actually my unparalleled luck.

=== Chapter === 38

Unable to tolerate Li Xiaohan's sighs for any longer, the well-digger came to the house at the appointed time.

The well-drilling master's surname was Han, and Master Han came with two apprentices.

After coming in, Master Han didn't say much. He walked around Li Xiandong's house, pulled the weeds everywhere and tasted them. He dug up the soil everywhere and rubbed it. After a while of tea, he chose to beat it. The place for the well-drill a well in the southeast corner five feet from the front of the kitchen door.

In fact, not all places are suitable for drilling wells. It is extremely lucky to have a place suitable for digging a well at home.

After determining the location of the well, the rest is easy to talk about. Li Xiandong had previously communicated with Master Han about the price, food, treatment and other requirements, and now they have been officially decided.

Master Han took his two apprentices, picked up a shovel, and dug vigorously. After an hour, they dug a circular pit four feet deep and four feet in diameter.

Then Master Han carried a coarse cloth bag and jumped into the pit. He did not continue to dig deeper, but dug footwells on the side of the pit wall.

Master Han's two apprentices were watching intently from the sidelines.

There are three masters and apprentices. They teach without talking and learn without asking.

Moreover, Master Han's real skill should be when he walks around the door and selects this place as the well location - whether he can draw water is the most important skill of a well digging master. However, Master Han has not said a word about this since he entered the house.

Suddenly, Li Xiaohan deeply realized how difficult it was to pass on the master-disciple tradition in ancient times. No wonder there was a saying: "Three years to learn a skill, three months to make up for it. When will you show off your skill, it all depends on your craftsmanship." If you can't bear the suffering, you should be the disciple." "Three years of scissors, five years of sword."

Li Xiaohan misses the time when the teacher in his previous life was eager to stuff knowledge into the students' heads.

We cannot say who is right or wrong, there are too many objective factors of the times.

However, the sharing of knowledge does make people's lives better and more colorful.

So much so that after Li Xiaohan traveled through time, he was able to use the life skills he developed to bring great improvements to his family's life.

After Master Han finished digging the footwell, he came up and asked another apprentice to continue digging the soil. He and another apprentice built a simple derrick, hoisted the rope, and bags of soil followed. The derrick was shipped out.

By noon, Master Han and his apprentice were already covered in sweat and dirt.

The lunch prepared by Wang and Li Xiaohan included leftover chicken, fish, pork, and newly stir-fried cabbage from last night.

At this time, no one would think that overnight dishes are unhealthy. Instead, they would think that there are several kinds of meat. Although each item is not in large quantities, it is a rare good meal.

Master Han and the other three were very satisfied with the food, but they felt that they were covered in dirt and refused to go in and soil the bright new furniture in the main room. They only wanted to squat by the well and eat.

Li Xiandong accompanied him to eat. Li Xiaohan and Wang stayed in the kitchen. Through the open door, they heard Master Han say happily, "Master, I see that in your room, everything will be going well soon." The well water can come out, and as soon as we dug it, it felt like the soil was a little moist."

"That's great." Li Xiandong smiled.

In the afternoon, the soil dug out of the well was transported out bit by bit and placed outside the house. People came and went and the matter of digging the well in Li Xiandong's house became known.

In this village, drilling a well is a big deal. In Pingshan Village, only the better-off families have their own wells, such as the patriarch Li's family, the third uncle's family and several other wealthy families. Even the original Li family's old house did not have their own well.

People who don't have wells at home can only fetch water from public wells in the village.

Summer is a little better, except for being a little tired, so forget it. In winter, I don't wear much to begin with, and it's even bitingly cold when I go out to fetch loads of water.

It is cold for men to carry water, and it is also cold for women to wash things. In order to save effort in carrying water, most people choose to wash themselves in the river first.

The river water in winter is biting. When I was washing clothes and vegetables by the river, the cold wind blew, and the river water was so cold that it hurt.

It would be different if there was a well at home. The well water would be warm in winter and cool in summer. Men would have less time to carry water, and women would have less time to endure the biting cold.

However, although wells are good, digging wells is expensive.

I heard that the better the master, the easier it is to dig a good well. However, the labor of such a master is very expensive. A well dug can even be worth the price of a tile-roofed house.

I heard that some people also tried to get a cheap well digger, but unexpectedly, after nearly ten days of drilling, no water came out, the money was spent, and the well was not restored.

Therefore, when they heard that Li Xiandong's family was digging a well, many people in the village came to watch the excitement. And it is very likely that the people who came are the same group of people who came in the morning, because these people may also be holding a finished or semi-finished fruit picker in their hands.

While we were knitting, we were watching the digging of wells and chatting. It was really lively, making Li Xiandong's house even more lively than the holiday yesterday.

"Brother Xiandong, you are getting more and more prosperous these days." A young man gave a thumbs up with a hint of envy.

Li Xiandong smiled naively, but did not shirk the responsibility, "You are still young, take your time."

"Yeah." The young man nodded heavily.

Nowadays, there are quite a few men in the village who regard Li Xiandong as their idol. Especially when the family was separated, we couldn't hide it. After all, when the winter wheat was sown, it was clear where the fields were and how big they were.

Therefore, there were also a few people who were filled with indignation towards Mrs. Chen as her stepmother, and the news about Li Shengli's unfair family division secretly spread even wider.

Nowadays, the life of Li Xiandong's family is getting better and better, which is a slap in the face to Li Shengli, who separated Li Xiandong.

Some old people in the village also began to murmur that the eldest son was no longer separated. The eldest son was capable and capable of taking on tasks. Looking at Li Xiandong's family, life was getting better in a blink of an eye. Li Shengli was confused and had no vision.

Li Xiandong's family is happy, so naturally someone is unhappy.

Mrs. Chen was very unhappy. She originally thought that dividing her stepson's family would not cause any big trouble.

Unexpectedly, the stepson's family, who used to be ordinary, had some luck. They made a fortune inexplicably and built a new house. They heard that they bought a good set of furniture a few days ago. Now, Drilling of water wells has actually begun.

Nowadays, the separated stepson's family is like a fish entering the sea, becoming more and more comfortable. On the contrary, it seems that the scheming self in the past is particularly stupid.

Li Shengli also had resentment in his heart, and the villagers were alienated from him. Chen couldn't think of a way to solve the problem, so she could only place her hope on Li Cairong's success as a scholar.

Thinking of Li Cairong, Mrs. Chen paused, made a bowl of egg water, and brought it to Li Cairong, who was studying hard in the east wing. After all, Li Cairong became more and more silent. Now Mrs. Chen doesn't know what the eldest grandson is thinking. What are you thinking about.

Not daring to disturb her grandson, Mrs. Chen gently put down the egg water and came out. She didn't see Li Cairong, who had been reading a book for a long time without turning the page, his brows furrowed and his expression impatient.

The bowl of egg water was left to cool down, but no one touched it.

After coming out, Mrs. Chen found Li Shengli and said happily, "Cai Rong is really promising. I just brought Cai Rong a bowl of egg water, and he didn't even raise his eyebrows. He has been concentrating on studying."

Li Shengli was repairing a hoe. When he heard this, he immediately stopped and said angrily, "Don't disturb Cai Rong's study."

"I know. I'm not the kind of ignorant person. I'm just afraid that Cai Rong will be tired. Cai Rong is our family's hope now..."

Unexpectedly, before Chen finished speaking, she was abruptly interrupted by Li Shengli, "As long as you know, don't be verbose here, go and cook."

Mrs. Chen choked, her breath rising and falling in her chest. She couldn't go up or come down. Finally, she held it in forcibly, turned around and left.

After the family was separated, no one did the housework originally done by Wang. As a last resort, Chen's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had no choice but to share the housework.

Mrs. Chen took over the work in the kitchen. Mrs. Chen, who was originally in charge of the kitchen, took over the two pigs and other livestock, while Mrs. Ye took over the laundry.

In fact, not only is there no one doing women's work, there are also many men's work.

In the past, when Li Shengli was the commander-in-chief, Li Xiandong would do everything properly. Li Shengli only needed to do some easy work.

After the separation, Li Shengli originally wanted to have the same command, but the command object was changed from Li Xiandong to Li Xiannan. It was indeed unexpected, but everything was not going well. It was not a big mistake, but it was just a small difference.

For example, at this moment, the hoe used to turn the ground was very awkward to use, laborious and not neat enough. After Li Shengli thought about it for a long time, he realized that no one had repaired the hoe since the separation.

He originally thought about instructing Li Xiannan, but then he turned around and discovered that the rice seeds for next spring at home were not well preserved, and one of the jars actually got damp.

The father and son couldn't figure out what went wrong, who did something wrong, maybe both.

In the end, we could only hurriedly ask the two brothers Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi to go to the city to buy grain during the New Year. Otherwise, this kind of grain would be even more expensive after the New Year.

Li Shengli had no choice but to repair the hoe by himself. It took him a long time to repair it, and he felt irritable.

Mrs. Chen came here again to talk about other things, and Li Shengli naturally became more and more impatient.

Now, he regrets very much that he separated his eldest son's family. If the family had not been separated, Eucommia ulmoides could have made a lot of money, and the work at home would not have been so hectic.

However, the family separation document had been signed and sealed, so Li Shengli had no choice but to endure the bitter consequences.

However, Chen's words were convoluted, but one thing was right. Their family's greatest hope now was Cai Rong.

Thinking of this, Li Shengli put down the hoe that had never been trimmed to the best fit, quietly walked to Li Xiandong's window and stood staring.

Well, Cai Rong was reading a book seriously, and Li Shengli finally nodded with satisfaction.

Finally something went well.

And in the window, Li Cairong's erect book blocked his increasingly frowning brows.

There is no end.

Li Xiaohan didn't know that a well in his home caused so many waves.

But even if she knew it, she wouldn't take it to heart.

The Li family is crooked from its roots. He made every possible effort and put all his thoughts into the one-third of an acre of land at home. He only thought about defeating the rest of the family all day long, so that he could do more and less.

Including the smartest Li Cairong, he is also in this pattern.

He was taught by Zhu Xiucai in the book, and later went to a school in the city to study, but in the end he established himself in the name of filial piety.

The reputation of filial piety is so false. As long as he can work hard to show off a bit of talent, or if his talent is not enough and he quits to open a school, Li Xiaohan will look down on his cousin.

It's a pity that I forgot where the money for Li Cairong's establishment in the city came from in the book. In fact, Li Xiaohan doubted that his father really found ginseng in the book, and it was possible that the money was misappropriated.

But now my father can no longer go into the mountains. Although he made a fortune by harvesting Eucommia ulmoides, it is still not enough to cultivate a scholar.

If you want to live a good life like the one in the book, it is impossible to stay in the old house.

The author will not fully describe this world, but that does not mean that nothing happened if the author did not write about it.

Li Xiaohan has discovered that this world has its own logic of operation, and their nameless backgrounds will continue to operate according to the logic of this world.

This is a real world.

Rather than saying that the authors created this world, it is better to say that from the birth of this world, it is not under the control of the authors. The author only picked out the fragments that describe the essence of one of the characters, and the rest lived their own lives in the world.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan no longer wants to pay attention to the old house and his family. His own family is getting better and better. Without outsiders who are consistent with the outside world, the old house will naturally spend its time on its own. Time will tell everything.

What Li Xiaohan is thinking now is that it will take three years for Panax notoginseng to be harvested, and Eucommia ulmoides has almost been harvested. The next batch needs to wait for the trees to grow again.

Is there any other way to make money at home safely and continuously?

The plan to make money will not be figured out for a while, but if there is something to spend money on, you can do it first.

"Dad, after our well is dug, will it look like the public well in the village?

The public well in Pingshan Village is a well platform surrounded by mud. Because people draw water all year round and wash vegetables and other things nearby, it is inevitably muddy.

In order not to get their feet dirty, the villagers used the stones to build a path.

"Yeah." Li Xiandong nodded.

"Dad, have you ever seen the well in Renhetang in the city? The land around the well is covered with bluestone bricks and is clean. Dad, why don't you ask the masters what this is? How to fix it? We have a new house and a new well. So much money has been spent. In the end, the house is often muddy and uncomfortable to live in. "

If Li Xiandong was enlightened, he nodded crazily. This house is now his greatest effort: "That's the truth. You are right."

An apprentice was sent to dig for water. Master Han, who was resting, said, "Master, it's easy for you. When the water comes out of the well, you build a sewer next to the well and let the water flow out of your yard along the sewer." , and then lay a layer of blue bricks on top to ensure that your house is as clean and tidy as the city."

"This is not a special craft. If you trust our masters and apprentices, go and order some green bricks and sandstone. After the well is dug, our masters and apprentices can make it for you. No. It will take as long as one day." Master Han took the job for himself.

This guy had good food, was kind, and paid his wages promptly, so Master Han was ready to take on another day's work for himself.

"It's done." Li Xiandong said, "If you don't do one thing and you have two masters, then let's leave it to Master Han. I will find a day to go to the city to order the bricks and stones before you finish the work."

"Master, don't be anxious. There is no need to worry about this matter. I'm thinking that in a few days, the well will be dug to a little more than two feet, and water will be available by then. After the water comes out, it will have to be left for two days. This dirty water slowly drains out, and then our masters and disciples come to dig out the well. By then, it will not be too late for you to go to the city to order bricks and stones. In this winter, it is almost time to build a house. , there aren't many orders from the masonry yards in the city. You don't need much, and you have enough time."

Master Han has already seen that this family has a lot of money. The girl in the kitchen keeps frying and drying Eucommia ulmoides all day long. Who in the city doesn't know how much money eucommia can make.

But the population is small, only three people. When the owner goes to order bricks and stones, there are only two women left at home. This is not appropriate. I guess he will have to invite someone to watch the house on the day he goes out. This again requires a favor, so why bother? It's not something to be particularly anxious about.

"That's okay." Li Xiandong breathed a sigh of relief, this is the best.

After he finished speaking, he thought of this matter. If he wanted to go out, it would be impossible for only two women, Wang and Li Xiaohan, to be left at home. If Master had to stop work for a day, it would also slow down the progress of digging the well. It was getting cold today. If it gets colder and the ground freezes, it would be difficult to dig.

Because the master refused to enter the main room to eat, the Li family's meals were divided into two portions. One portion was sent to the courtyard for Li Xiandong and the masters, and the other was eaten by Li Xiaohan and Wang themselves in the kitchen.

Master Han and others took a bite. What they ate tonight was bacon stir-fried with garlic sprouts. The garlic sprouts were green and tender, and the bacon was alternately fat and lean. Especially the half layer of fat meat, which was almost transparent and glistening with oil. This dish alone was worth it. Then there is the wok fried in lard, which is tender and sweet. When you sip it, there is no fiber at all. The food alone makes the work worth it.

Master Han was extremely satisfied with the Li family's food, and secretly decided to show his true skills to avoid ruining his reputation.

Master Han here is extremely satisfied with the food, and Li Xiaohan in the kitchen is also eating happily. She is only 13 years old in this body now, which is the age when she eats hard and grows rapidly. This world that has just experienced war does not admire the beauty of weak and thin willows.

Besides, Li Xiaohan knew that soon there would be another wave of turmoil. A strong body would have more hope of escape. Therefore, Li Xiaohan ate very deliciously.

While everyone was eating, there was a knock on the door of Li Xiandong's house.

While digging the well, it was not surprising that someone occasionally came to take a look. Li Xiandong put down the bowl and opened the door.

"Uncle Xian Dong." Outside the door was Uncle Li's eldest son Li Dazhuang.

Li Dazhuang was carrying a basket of fruits and said, "Uncle Xian Dong, my father asked me to bring it over to you. Thank you for your fruit picker."

"Hey, hey, no, it's not worth sending something specially. It's just a gadget." Li Xiandong waved his hands repeatedly.

"Uncle, my dad told you to accept it. You know my dad, I'm leaving first." Li Dazhuang put down the fruit and ran away, not even carrying a basket.

He is seventeen this year. A few years ago, my father fell down and broke his leg, and my mother was also killed. At that time, we tried our best to treat her, even borrowing money from the clan to use ginseng, but the result was that the person was still not saved. .

Since then, the family's situation has plummeted, and they have incurred a large amount of debt and have been suffering for several years.

That piece of fruit forest has become a worry for my family. However, people are poor and have short ambitions. No matter how uncomfortable they are, they have to take good care of that piece of forest.

But every year when it was time to pick fruits, my father would become even more gloomy.

Li Dazhuang is the eldest son. After his father was injured, he consciously had to shoulder the burden of the family. But what can he do? All he can do is take good care of those acres of land and be filial to his father.

But it's just a drop in the bucket.

Now, Xian Dongbo's family has taught him how to harvest Eucommia ulmoides, and his family has almost paid off their debts. Li Dazhuang breathed a sigh of relief.

Today, Uncle Xian Dong's family discovered this fruit picker again, which cured his father's heart ailment. Da Zhuang was even more grateful.

A basket of fruits can't express the gratitude of my family at all. It's just that I don't have any good things at home, so I can only pick the best fruits.

After hearing that Xian Dongbo politely said no, Li Dazhuang didn't know what to say, so he simply left the fruit and ran away.

Li Xiandong looked at the remaining fruit and had no choice but to bring it in first.

"What, who sent it here?" Wang asked curiously as an extra basket of fruits was brought in for no reason. Li Xiaohan also stared at her father eagerly.

"It was sent here by Da Zhuang from the Dashu family."

"The Dashu family." Li Xiaohan and Wang were silent together, obviously the tragedy of the Li Dashu family was still in their minds.

"You will pick up some cooking cakes for me later. I have to return some of such a big gift." Li Xiandong said.

"Hey." Wang said in response.

After dinner, Master Han took his two apprentices back. Li Xiandong went out carrying half a basket of cooking cakes and an empty basket.

Unexpectedly, less than half an hour later, Li Xiandong came back with half a basket of cooking cakes, but the empty basket was gone.

"Dad. How is it?" Li Xiaohan brought a bowl of hot water to her father and asked.

"Your Uncle Dashu confiscated it."

Li Xiandong sighed, "When I arrived, your Uncle Dashu was burning the fruit picker for your Aunt Dashu in the brazier. He burned one after another, but I didn't persuade him. I helped burn a few and then came back. ."

"That's not easy to persuade. People's hearts are so heavy." Li Xiaohan agreed in a low voice, "Then just put it away and talk about it later."

=== Chapter === 39

The next day, Li Xiaohan packed up the basket of fruits.

Generally, dates are harvested in early autumn, but the dates in Pingshan Village mature slightly later, probably due to the variety. On the contrary, as it grows longer, the jujube becomes larger, plumper and sweeter.

The jujubes sent by Da Zhuang are one of the masterpieces. They are round in grains and full in color. When you take a bite, they are crispy and sweet.

After dates, the second most popular thing Da Zhuang brought was pears.

Burning pits in winter makes people warmer, but on the other hand, it is easy to become hot. if! ! Eating a frozen pear can slightly relieve this anxiety. Therefore pears are very popular in the city. If the villagers have a lot of mountainous land, they will plant more pear trees. Otherwise, city people like it and it can be sold at a high price.

Li Dazhuang must have sent the first batch of pears, and they all exude the fragrance of pears.

Li Xiaohan stopped for a while. There were only three men in Uncle Dashu's family. He remembered that Uncle Dashu was not too tidy in appearance, but he didn't expect to be so attentive. All the fruits he brought were carefully selected.

After thinking for a while, Li Xiaohan decided to boil these pears into pear paste, so that whenever he wanted to eat it, he could just pick a spoonful and drink it with water.

After all, frozen pears are too cold, so it is not suitable for those who are weak, sick, or too old or too young. But pear paste water is warm and can be drunk by most people.

This drinking method has existed since ancient times, but Pingshan Village has never seen it. It would be great if we could introduce a new way to eat pears so that more pears can be sold at a higher price.

When he wanted to do it, Li Xiaohan found a large wooden plate, washed the pears, cut them into fine pieces, and finally ground the pear pieces into foam with a stone mill. Finally, he put the foam and water into a large pot and simmered it over slow fire. cook. After cooking until cooked, filter out the residue and boil the pear water into a paste.

The bright yellow flame burned quietly at the bottom of the pot. The pot of pear water slowly cooked out a rich pear aroma, which filled the room, making people feel like they were in a pear forest...

Busy days pass quickly. As Master Han said, the well in Li Xiandong's house is shallow and only took seven days to dig. It is only three feet deep, and the water has already cleared up quite quickly.

"Come on, take advantage of the fact that there is not much water now and dig the well deeper in one breath." Master Han held his breath and said, "Master, please ask the madam and the young lady to get out of the way."

Li Xiaohan thought that there must be water, and the water had reached Master Han's calves. He probably had difficulty dressing, so he asked them to get out of the way if they needed to take off their clothes.

Naturally, Mrs. Wang had no objection. The two of them picked up their backpacks, fruit picking implements, and went up the mountain with the dry food.

Now that they have fruit pickers, Wang and Li Xiaohan can pick fruits with confidence.

As Li Xiaohan and Wang walked from the village into the mountains, they could vaguely see long bamboo poles looming in the forest. It seemed that the fruit-picking utensils were becoming popular very quickly.

The first thing the mother and daughter did when they came to the mountains was to see how the Panax notoginseng germination was going. Li Xiaohan pulled the seedlings one by one. Among the trees, these seedlings were growing quite well.

The beginning of winter has passed, and the temperature difference between morning and evening in the forest is huge. If it gets colder, it will be difficult for them to come and take care of them frequently.

Unlike the seeds in the vegetable patch in the backyard, the seeds can be covered with straw at night to keep warm, and the straw can be uncovered during the day to get full sunlight, and water can be added from time to time to keep it moist.

These seedlings in the forest can only rely on themselves most of the time.

Li Xiaohan hopes that these seedlings can grow up as soon as possible to withstand the coming cold winter.

After inspecting the growth of the seedlings and watering them as usual, Wang and Li Xiaohan set up their fruit pickers to pick the persimmons.

Now is the season when persimmons are ripe. Pick them, peel them and dry them to make persimmons, which are eaten just in time for the Chinese New Year.

By the afternoon, the two of them had picked a basket full of persimmons.

After picking the persimmons and picking a jujube tree, the two of them prepared to go home.

Even if Li Xiaohan asked repeatedly, Wang only gave Li Xiaohan a shallow basket.

The last time I saw Dr. Zhang, Li Xiaohan asked her if there was any way to grow taller. Dr. Zhang told her not to carry heavy things, as she would not be able to grow taller if she was pressed down.

From then on, Li Xiandong and the Wang family regarded Doctor Zhang's words as an imperial edict and would never let Li Xiaohan carry the basket again unless necessary.

Halfway through, I met other people in the village one after another.

"Xiaohan, Xiaohan's mother. Wait for us." A familiar voice came from the forest, and Li Xiaohan and Li Xiaohan stopped.

When the visitor came over, he saw that it was Li Guiqian's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhao.

"Aunt Zhao."

"I'm watching you two from afar. Come on, let me give you some fruits, Tiantianzui."

Mrs. Zhao pulled it and put a large handful of dates into Li Xiaohan's basket.

Mrs. Zhao was not surprised at all that Li Xiaohan only had a little bit of fruit in the basket on his back - Ms. Zhao now understood her sister-in-law's family who were separated by a room. She had a daughter who had to be pampered. Well.

Besides, Zhao himself has a smart daughter like Xiaohan, and he loves her too.

"Auntie, no need." Li Xiaohan waved his hands repeatedly.

"I want it, I have it at home, it's not a valuable thing, I'll let you take it as you please." Zhao said, changing the subject, "How is your well digging going? ?How about the master?"

"We have dug out water. I estimate that after today, we will have to stop for a few days, then dig out the well again, and finally build the walls of the well."

"Hey, the water was dug out so quickly." Mrs. Zhao was surprised. This must have been so smooth.

"No, Master Han also said that he didn't expect the water level in our house to be so shallow. This is several days faster than expected. Soon our family will be able to fetch water at home. I don't know how much more convenient it will be in the future. ."

"That's it." Mrs. Zhao praised, looking thoughtful, and Li Xiaohan did not interrupt her.

When this person is rich, he is willing to spend money to improve his life.

As he said this, another family caught up next to him.

"Sister Xiaohan, Auntie Xiandong, Auntie Xianqian, I was saying they looked familiar, and it turned out to be you." The visitor said enthusiastically.

This is a slightly dark and cheerful aunt. She is not young, but she is the same generation as Li Xiaohan. She doesn't care, it is very natural, "Sister Xiaohan, I heard that you came up with the fruit picker. You said how can the melon seeds in this head be so smart? This saves the boss a lot of effort. Come, try my dates. This year, with this fruit picker, you can pick them from even the most remote branches."

"Sister-in-law Fan, you're welcome." Li Xiaohan remembered that this aunt's surname was Fan, and she had learned how to fry Eucommia ulmoides from him, so he quickly declined.

"Just take it if my sister-in-law tells you to. It's something you grow at home. It's not a valuable thing, Tiantianzui. If you don't take it, you're looking down on me. Why, is such a good fruit picker worth it? I need you to eat some dates." Sister-in-law Fan seemed angry.

"Xiaohan, take it as your sister-in-law Fan asks you to do. Everyone in this village will respect your feelings," Ms. Zhao advised.

It was hard to reject the hospitality, so Li Xiaohan put it away.

Unexpectedly, on the way home, I met several families who were returning from picking fruits. Each of them stuffed a lot of fruits for Li Xiaohan. Because Li Xiaohan's box was full of dates, everyone mistakenly thought that she liked dates, so they Dusai dates.

As a result, when Li Xiaohan returned home, the bottom of Li Xiaohan's originally shallow frame now had half a frame of jujubes.

At home, Master Han and others were already packing things. Mrs. Zhao took a look around the well of Li Xiandong's house, thought about it in her mind, and quickly asked Master Han to come to her home to have a look. If it was suitable, she would The family also wants to dig a well.

Master Han agreed to go when he saw that his employer didn't mind and that he was a very close relative.

Even Li Xiandong went with him to take a look.

"Your aunt just came to dig the well now, is it too late?" Wang asked worriedly.

In fact, I am a little worried about whether Master Han taking another order will affect his family's progress.

"Mom, don't worry, our progress is faster than expected. Besides, Master Han just went to check the situation first, and dad followed him. Even if the second uncle's house also needs to dig a well, the construction period will be discussed. "Li Xiaohan comforted.

Li Xiaohan was not too worried about this. Ancient craftsmen basically worked in one place, so they would not ruin their reputation for temporary gains.

Sure enough, about half an hour later, Li Xiandong came back.

"Master Han looked at the ground and said that there is a high probability that water will come out, but the location of the water may be a little deeper than our house. If he wants to dig a well, he can call his master over and take advantage of our house to dig out the well. They also dug up their house. The second uncle then made the decision to dig it out now so that it can be used later this winter."

"That's good." Mrs. Wang felt relieved when she heard that digging her well had not been delayed.

"Master Han still has a master? Isn't that much better than Master Han, and the price is much more expensive?" Li Xiaohan asked curiously.

The master-disciple chain of this ancient craftsman is quite strict, with one link linked to the other.

"Master Han's master is his father-in-law, and the price is not much higher. After all, Master Han is also a master and is still in his prime." Li Xiandong explained.

"I see. Then Master Han must have won his master's heart back then." Otherwise, how could he marry his daughter to Master Han.

After talking about Master Han's gossip, Li Xiandong said another thing, "I went to my second uncle's house and saw them drying cotton and peeling cotton seeds. Then I realized that there was no cotton in our house this winter. I ordered 100 kilograms from my second uncle's house. Seed cotton, after peeling the cotton seeds, there will be about 30 kilograms of lint cotton. When the time comes, our family will make two thick quilts of 8 kilograms, and then each person in our family will have a winter cotton coat of at least 3 kilograms of cotton."

It is the first time for my family to celebrate the New Year and they have made money. It is very important to celebrate the New Year decently and warmly. Li Xiandong spent this money very generously.

"How much does it cost to make so many quilts and coats at once?" Wang said heartbrokenly, "I can still wear my old cotton coats."

"We don't have much money. It costs 20 Wen per catty to collect seed cotton in the city. My second uncle also gave me 20 Wen per catty. He promised me to pick out the big ones from this year's seed cotton. When the time comes, I can pick out the cotton seeds myself." Yes. If you go to the city to buy cotton yourself, this year's new cotton with picked cotton seeds will cost at least 80 Wen per pound."

Li Xiandong used to be in charge of the farm affairs of Laozhai's family. Although he didn't talk much, he was actually very attentive.

"That cotton-padded coat costs 2 cents. It's too expensive, or I'll stop making my cotton-padded coat." Wang said heartbrokenly, she could save at least 200 cents.

"Mom, that cotton-padded coat of yours has been worn for so many years, it's still warm." Li Xiaohan interrupted Wang.

Wang's cotton-padded coat was old for who knows how many years. It was stiff and stiff and did not keep warm at all.

"The big thing is the quilt. How much can you save on a cotton coat? Besides, dad and I are both wearing new cotton coats, and you are the only one wearing an old cotton coat. It makes dad seem to be abusing you."

Concerned about Li Xiandong's face, Mr. Wang stopped talking.

"Besides, my grandfather didn't allocate cotton fields to us, and our family doesn't have any cotton. If we go to the city to buy ready-made cotton, it will cost more. Now my father and my second uncle's family buy seed cotton, and we have When I have free time, I pick out the cotton seeds, which saves half a fortune. If I save, I will make money."

The Li family grows cotton, and 100 kilograms of seed cotton can produce about 30 kilograms of lint cotton. Buying 100 kilograms of seed cotton from Li Shengyi's family costs 2,000 kilograms. If you buy 30 kilograms of lint cotton from the city, it costs 2,400 kilograms. After all the calculations, Li Xiandong It really saved 400 yuan.

It takes a lot of time to peel cotton seeds, but their family is allocated less land, so there is relatively less farm work. In addition, the Eucommia ulmoides has been fried, so it is nothing more than spending time at home peeling cotton seeds before the Chinese New Year.

There were no recreational activities in ancient times. Everyone worked non-stop every day. Peeling some cotton seeds was nothing.

This is what Li Xiaohan thought at this time.

Hearing Li Xiaohan's analysis, Wang Shifang suppressed his heartache, and Li Xiandong felt that his decision was wise. Although his father said that no one in his family could weave and would not allocate cotton fields to him, after the family was separated and there was no cotton field, he could already put on new cotton clothes and cover himself with new quilts.

Even in the Li family's old house, cotton could not be used for home use, most of it had to be sold.

For so many years, Li Xiaohan only had an old cotton coat.

Having enough food and clothing is the most basic human need. Now that we are satisfied with having enough food, clothing and clothing should also be put on the agenda. Li Xiaohan agreed with Li Xiandong's decision.

However, in these ancient times, cotton-padded clothes were really expensive.

Li Xiaohan frowned, because he was afraid that Li Xiaohan and his daughter would secretly learn how to weave. In addition, their mother and daughter were not able to use the light wheels to pick cotton seeds. Li Xiaohan did not know much about his own cotton fields before. many.

However, it seems that the yield of cotton fields is not high?

Early the next morning, Li Xiandong's family had just finished breakfast, and Li Shengyi sent his youngest grandson Li Jiabao to call Li Xiandong's family.

"Uncle Xiandong, my grandfather asked me to call you over. I borrowed the clan leader's scale and asked you to come over and watch and weigh the seed cotton for you." Li Jiabao is 10 years old and is the youngest grandson of Li Shengyi.

Although it is said that relatives are doing business, but the accounts are settled clearly by blood brothers, it is better to hand over the money and deliver the goods in person.

"Okay. Wait for me for a while." Li Xiandong entered the main room, took out two slings of money, and followed Li Jiabao out.

Two ounces of cotton is really a big deal. While Mrs. Wang was tidying up the east wing, she looked out.

Li Xiaohan was not in such a hurry. After all, buying a quilt and a few clothes didn't feel like a big deal to Li Xiaohan.

However, when Li Xiandong came in, Li Xiaohan suddenly realized that he had gone wrong. What he bought was not two quilts + three cotton-padded clothes, but the raw material of two quilts + three cotton-padded clothes - seed cotton. Four loads of solid seed cotton.

Li Xiandong took the lead and walked into the east wing carrying a load of seed cotton, followed by the three grandsons of Li Shengyi's family.

"Here, just put it here." Li Xiandong said.

The three young men pulled out the pole gently and deftly, and the oldest one said, "Uncle Xiandong, let's go. Grandpa said that you don't have so many baskets at home, so just let us take the pole back."

"It's okay." Li Xiandong said, just a few loads of baskets, the villagers can just cut some bamboo and weave them themselves, it just takes a little effort.

Neither family cared about this trivial matter, and the three young men left quickly after picking the seed cotton.

"This is good seed cotton." Mrs. Wang picked up a cotton boll. It was white and huge, with not many stubs or hard shells left.

"No, the weather is good this year, so the cotton grows well." Li Xiandong also squatted down and praised, "I also saw the good seed cotton at my second uncle's house, so I decided to buy it. Such good cotton is made The quilt is still warm after covering it for ten years."

"Hmm." Seeing the real thing, Wang's eyes lit up, and she didn't regret the two ounces of money she spent. This quilt and cotton coat can also be used as a big item.

Li Xiaohan pulled open a piece of cotton and looked at the cotton seeds hidden inside. "Mom, let's just manually pick out the cotton seeds one by one? Can't we finish it before the Chinese New Year?"

"There's definitely not enough to choose from. But it's okay. Let's sort out the cotton seeds for cotton-padded clothes first. Then we will have new cotton-padded clothes to wear during the Chinese New Year. The quilts can be made a little slower, before and after this year. , it's about picking cotton seeds."

In the past, Mrs. Wang and Li Xiaohan were unable to do the light work of peeling cotton seeds. Now that they can peel cotton seeds by themselves, Mrs. Wang no longer felt bad and began to become excited. She was already imagining her family wearing bridal clothes. look.

Li Xiaohan's eyes flashed, she had become objective before. Sitting on the kang every day to pick cotton seeds by hand, although I didn't get cold or tired, it was so inefficient.

I hate that I am not a mechanical engineer and cannot remember the structure of the carding machine in my previous life.

Wang's work was quite efficient. After buying the seed cotton in the morning, after breakfast and other chores, Wang had packed two baskets and was ready to pick cotton seeds with Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan knew that this manual work was extremely grueling, but she could only remember the name of the Whitney cotton binding machine, but not the principle of the Whitney cotton binding machine.

There is no other way but to use this traditional manual method to peel cotton seeds.

However, after most of the day, Li Xiaohan looked at his hands that were about to cramp from repeating an action, and felt that he was just a robot without a brain.

But even so, the cotton stripped out was only half a basket. Extremely inefficient.

We can't go on like this, Li Xiaohan, please think of a way!

=== Chapter === 40

On the morning of October 16th, it was already 6 o'clock (9-11 o'clock), but the sky was still dark.

There are dark clouds and the sun has not yet come out. It seems that today is not a good day.

After breakfast, Li Xiaohan and Wang hid in the side room to peel cotton seeds. Li Xiandong, Master Han and others were outside digging for wells, and the Li family were busy on their own.

It's just that Li Xiaohan didn't stop, but he was a little absent-minded, not knowing what he was thinking about.

"Xiaohan, what are you thinking about?" Mrs. Wang asked with concern when her daughter was in trouble and seemed to have something difficult in her heart.

"Mom, I'm thinking about how to make this cottonseed peeling faster." Li Xiaohan replied with a frown.

"Silly boy." Ms. Wang said angrily. She thought it was something difficult, but it turned out to be true. "This has been how cotton seeds have been peeled since ancient times. How can you get there faster if you want to?" Go. No matter how fast a person can only have two hands, he can still grow four hands. If your fingers get sore after peeling them, stop and rest for a while, and then peel them again later. Don't be in a hurry, ah."

Wang even took on a coaxing tone. My daughter, who used to be so clever and smart, now has her brows furrowed and is thinking about how to peel cotton seeds faster, but she is still just a child.

"Mom, it's not like that. The difference between humans and other animals is that humans can use tools. Do you understand?" Li Xiaohan said distressedly.

"I don't understand." Mrs. Wang looked at her daughter's dark eyes, not annoyed, and admitted with a smile, "But my daughter definitely understands better than me. But do I have to figure out this thing right away? I can think about it slowly. Can't do it? Two days, three days...One day you will figure out why you are making things so difficult for yourself."

"That's true..." Li Xiaohan nodded in confusion. She was actually slowly persuaded by Wang.

Are you too eager? How can the crystallization of wisdom of many generations in history and the technological accumulation of the productivity revolution be plagiarized so easily by yourself?

Even knowing the theory is not enough. I know that people can go to heaven, but I myself cannot go to heaven.

After all, personal wisdom is limited, and I am not a professional in this field. If I can't remember the Whitney cotton binding machine, I can't remember it. If I can't figure it out, I can't figure it out.

If you can't do that, can you keep hitting your head on this impassable road and get bleeding?

Li Xiaohan slowly began to think about it. Tools are meant to make life better, not to make life more miserable.

Seeing that Li Xiaohan's frown finally relaxed, Mrs. Wang relaxed and continued peeling cotton seeds.

In the wing room, the atmosphere finally became calm and gentle.

In front of the kitchen, Master Han and the three of them drank a bowl of hot goat's milk and ginger. They felt a heat rising from their stomachs. Taking advantage of the heat to protect their bodies, they took turns going down to the well to fetch water from the well.

The sky in the distance became lower and lower, and dark clouds covered the sun.

"It's going to snow today." Li Xiandong raised his eyes to the sky and said with a frown.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew up, causing the towering treetops in the distance to bend, bringing with it a whistling sound from afar. Several people on the ground couldn't help but shrink back.

When, when, when, when, when, when...

Suddenly, a rich bell sounded in the distance, one after another, getting closer and clearer, like a burst of thunder in people's hearts.

Clang.

The bowl in Li Xiandong's hand fell to the ground, making a very harsh sound, and the unfinished goat's milk splashed all over the floor.

thump.

It was a wooden barrel filled with sewage. The sound of the wooden barrel falling into the water again came from the bottom of the well.

With a bang, Mrs. Wang hurriedly opened the door of the wing and ran out. Her voice was filled with fear, panic, confusion and bewilderment, "Baby's father!"

Ms. Wang knew that something big had happened when the bell rang, but she didn't know what exactly happened. I just subconsciously looked for the boss.

Li Xiandong was brought back to his senses by Wang's scream, but he was not much better than Wang. He only trembled his lips and made a muffled voice, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

No one could hear what he said except himself. Maybe Li Xiandong didn't expect others to answer him.

But if the sky falls, what will they do? Are we going back to the troubled times again?

Li Xiaohan followed Mr. Wang and ran out. When he saw Mr. Li Xiandong and Mr. Wang looked like his dead father, he frowned and said sharply: "Dad, it's a six-ring bell, not a nine-ring bell. Not Your Majesty. Not Your Majesty!"

Not His Majesty, but the Prince!

The background of the plot begins.

The prince dies, the grandson rises, the emperor collapses, and the vassal king rebels.

A corner of the troubled times has quietly been revealed, but unfortunately no one knows about it at this time.

The sharp girl's voice pierced everyone's eardrums and slightly restored everyone's minds.

Just at this time, another round of bells rang. The crowd clung to the driftwood like a drowning man, straining their hearts and ears to listen.

When, when, when, when, when, when...

Even Li Xiaohan, who knew the plot, was afraid that he had not heard it correctly, so he stopped talking and listened attentively.

Sure enough, it was six bells, not nine bells. It's the queen or the prince, not your majesty.

The Li family has its own inheritance, and the family has its own teachings on this kind of regulations. Master Han and others came from the city and also had this knowledge.

After counting the bells, everyone finally regained half of their concentration as if they were surviving a disaster.

At this time, Li Xiaohan had calmed down, her still childish face became extremely calm, so calm that it exceeded her physical age at this moment, and her voice also had coldness and strength, calming everyone's panic. Heart:

"Dad, I don't know what's going on. Go to the patriarch's house immediately. Just do what the patriarch tells you!"

"Two young masters, is Master Han still at the bottom of the well? You pull Master Han up first. The death knell rings and the city gate may be closed soon. It is forbidden to move around in the city. You go home first and wait in the city. Come to my house after you feel settled."

"Mom, you go back to the wing and stay there. I'll go in later."

After a series of instructions, everyone finally found the direction of action.

Yes, find the clan leader!

Li Xiandong was directed by his daughter to stumble out and ran out. He used too much force and was too distracted, leaving only the mother and daughter facing Master Han and others, and the two dangling doors that had not been closed in time.

And the voice of Master Han at the bottom of the well finally faced his position, he had to go home! What should I do if the older and younger members of the family have no backbone?

"Put a rope first and pull me up." Master Han shouted from the bottom of the well.

He had no strength and his hands and feet were weak. Master Han could not climb up by stepping on the hollows of his feet.

Master Han's two apprentices quickly threw the rope down, and they worked together. Master Han relied on the power of the hanging rope to step on the hollows of his feet, and finally climbed up.

When Master Han came up, Li Xiaohan had already turned around, facing the side room and facing away from everyone.

Li Xiandong was not at home, and only two women, Li Xiaohan and Wang, were left in the Li family. Wang even hid in the side room.

Master Han and the three of them did not dare to show the slightest contempt. Master Han, who took the lead, even lowered his head slightly and respectfully said to Li Xiaohan's back, "Miss Li, let's go home first. Wait. We will come back when the situation is clear."

Even the wording is much more formal.

We know that nine bells indicate the death of the emperor, while six bells indicate the death of the queen or prince. Knowing that such a major event would close the city gates to prevent unrest.

Master Han himself only knew about these regulations because he had lived in the city for generations and his close relative was a petty official.

And Li Xiaohan, a girl from the village, already has this kind of knowledge.

Compared with knowledge, mind is more powerful. Insight can be passed down from others, but mind is innate and cannot be obtained from others.

Being able to count the number of bells at the first ring, being able to immediately think of the possibility of closing the city gates to prevent unrest after hearing the death knell, and immediately arrange for his father to go to the clan to understand the situation, and arrange himself These outsiders.

This kind of calmness in the chaos, this kind of clarity in the panic, Master Han thinks that he is almost over fifty, and he has seen too much of the world and can't do it.

Therefore, Master Han's respect is from the heart, regardless of age or gender.

It's a pity that Li Xiaohan didn't know that his aura as a time traveler had already shocked Master Han and others, and he became a man of great wisdom in the hearts of Master Han and others.

To let Li Xiaohan know, she can only say that she is a golden finger who knows the plot, and she has no awe of the feudal imperial power under the socialist education.

So, Li Xiaohan, who was unaware at this moment, and who had his back to everyone because of feudal customs, comforted him and said, "Well, Master Han, don't be in a hurry when it's time to dig the well. Let's go home first. If If the city gate is closed, Master Han can come to my house, there are still a few empty rooms at home."

"Yes, thank you Miss Li."

Master Han and the other three responded, really anxious to get home.

In this current situation, I don't know what the family is like, but I still have to be by my side.

As for the specific situation, we have to go back and find out more about it and make preparations.

After Master Han and the other three left, Li Xiaohan stepped forward and closed the door of his house, remembering to take down the two red lanterns hanging at the beginning of winter.

After closing the door, Li Xiandong probably wouldn't be able to come back for a while. Li Xiaohan opened the door to the side room to see how Wang was doing.

At this moment, Wang was like an old hen when a heavy rain came, huddled in her nest and shivering in the darkness and heavy rain.

Seeing Li Xiaohan come in, Mrs. Wang quickly said, "Xiaohan, Xiaohan, come to mother quickly."

The old hen wants to pull the chicks under her wings.

However, the little chicken is not afraid of anything and is still in the mood to comfort the old hen, "Mom, don't be afraid. Dad will go to the patriarch's house. The patriarch will tell us what to do."

At this time, be sure not to use the aura of a time traveler. If an independent person violates a taboo, he may die without knowing it.

It is safest to go with the crowd, especially a clan like the Li family with its own inheritance, there will definitely be taboos about such a trivial matter of national mourning.

Even if you don't know, it doesn't matter. The clan leader can find the village chief, and the village chief can find the government office. There will always be channels for information.

Much better than messing around with your own home.

To put it bluntly, even if you do something wrong, you are not afraid of the whole clan making the same mistake. You cannot wipe out the Li clan just because of a small mistake. People in power sometimes still worry about their reputation.

Now we're just waiting for Li Xiandong to find out something from the patriarch's house.

Here, Li Xiaohan was waiting for news from Li Xiandong. After hearing this, Mrs. Wang calmed down a little and waited for news from Li Xiandong, but she still said uneasy, "Xiaohan, come to mother's side."

There is a kang in the east wing, and Mrs. Wang is huddled on the kang at the moment.

Li Xiaohan did not listen to Mrs. Wang's words and went to the kang. He paused for a moment, then walked to the basket containing seed cotton and said to Mrs. Wang in a calm voice, "Mom, if you are really worried, come and peel it." Cottonseed. If you are busy, you won't have time to think about things. There are no more children, seven or five children."

Wang was stunned, ah, it can still be like this.

But Li Xiaohan's voice was soft and firm, and people couldn't help but feel that she was right. Mrs. Wang couldn't help but climb down from the kang and walk to the basket to peel cotton seeds with Li Xiaohan.

After peeling for half an hour, I found something to do, and my heart gradually settled down.

"Xiaohan, aren't you afraid?" Wang asked curiously.

Li Xiaohan was not afraid, she had been thinking about the impact of this incident on her family. The tide is coming, how can your family preserve itself?

But you can't tell Wang this, otherwise Wang will think about other things. Li Xiaohan said in a relaxed tone:

"What are you afraid of? Liu Sheng, it's not the death of the emperor, it's just the death of his wife or his son. Does it have anything to do with us? Which one dies? It doesn't matter at all. It might as well be that the cold weather today has a big impact on our family. Hurry up. It's snowing, mother, why don't you peel off these cotton seeds quickly, otherwise I will wear old cotton clothes and get cold."

Wang was stunned again.

Yes, when you think about it, it really makes sense.

Once the death of the emperor's relatives is compared with the cold snow in the world, it turns out that the snow in the world has a greater impact, and even peeling cotton seeds becomes eager.

Wang was convinced, and began to devote herself physically and mentally to the work of peeling cotton seeds, gradually forgetting her fear.

Although it is a way to appease the Wang family, the repetitive and monotonous work does make people easily relax and not think.

Including Li Xiaohan himself, in this repetitive and monotonous work, he relaxed slightly from the tension at the beginning of the plot background, his body became more flexible, and his thinking became more active.

Although the plot begins with the general background, fortunately this is not a temporary thing. The old emperor still has three years to plan for his grandson.

Moreover, as the base camp of the final winner, King Ding, although the outside is turbulent, the city at the center of the whirlpool is relatively calm.

Li Xiaohan thought about it for a long time and remembered correctly. The city had never been breached. At most, there were only a few stray soldiers scattered around.

At present, living in Pingshan Village around Fucheng is a good choice within your ability.

What you can do now is to strengthen your own strength. Wealth, reputation, and ability are all indispensable.

Just stay there for a while and develop slowly. If you can just ride on the big ship of Dingwang, it will be fine.

Li Xiaohan set the current policy for his family and slowly calmed down.

While the two mothers and daughters were peeling off cottonseeds without knowing how much time had passed, there was a loud knock on the door of the Li family's house, "Xiaohan, it's me, come and open the door."

The door of the house was locked by Li Xiaohan.

"It's your dad." Wang said in surprise.

"Well, dad is back." Li Xiaohan stood up and said, but he was confused. The news was confirmed so quickly?

The mother and daughter got up and opened the door. Li Xiandong stepped in with a white face and closed the door tightly.

Li Xiaohan looked at Li Xiandong like this, frowned, and asked, "Dad, why are you back? Did the clan leader tell you what happened?"

"No. The clan leader went to see the village chief, and we want to go together to ask for details. Let's put away the red and festive things at home first, and wait until he comes back." Li Xiandong replied while looking around, "Master Han and the others Woolen cloth?"

In fact, Li Xiandong hurried back because he finally remembered that he had left his wife and daughter at home with Master Han and the others. Otherwise, he would stay at the patriarch's house.

Although the clan leader said to go home and wait for news from him, many members of the Li family stayed with the clan leader. Firstly, they could wait for the clan leader as soon as possible. Secondly, with more people, everyone would be more courageous.

"I asked them to go back to the city first. If the city gate is closed later, it would be inconvenient. I also told Master Han and the others to come back when the situation is stable." Li Xiaohan explained.

"Oh, that's how it should be." Li Xiandong strongly agreed with his daughter's approach, "Then I will take off the two lanterns at home."

The patriarch gave the order.

"Dad, I've already taken it off."

"That's good, that's good." Li Xiandong nodded repeatedly. His daughter was indeed very smart and thought of the same as the clan leader.

However, the things he originally wanted to do when he came back had already been done. Li Xiandong didn't know what to do for a moment, and a look of confusion appeared on his face.

Li Xiaohan glanced at his father, sighed, and asked, "Dad, do you still want to go to the patriarch's house?"

"No, I won't go. I'll stay with you." Although I feel safe staying with everyone at the patriarch's house, what about my wife and daughter?

"Oh, dad, let's prepare for lunch. You and mother go and prepare." Li Xiaohan assigned, this is another person who needs work to divert his attention.

"Ah... still want to eat?"

After such a big event happened, are you still in the mood to have lunch?

"Dad, what does it matter to you whether the emperor is a dead wife or a dead son? Are you not going to eat?" Li Xiaohan asked in surprise.

"It doesn't have anything to do with me." Li Xiandong thought about it seriously, and he really couldn't think of anything to do with him, "Then... let's have lunch."

"Well, go ahead, Dad, I want to eat bacon steamed rice with fish soup." Li Xiaohan ordered.

The Li family just happened to be keeping two fish in the tank to get rid of the muddy fish. Taking advantage of the uncertainty of the situation, they wanted to have a good meal first. If the emperor goes crazy and wants everyone to eat fast to observe filial piety for his son, the current oil and water will be enough to support him.

As for whether eating meat is taboo. There are only three people in their family. Who knows when the door is closed.

Li Xiandong and Wang were shocked by Li Xiaohan's attitude of ordering food as a matter of course. For a moment, they felt that this was the correct reaction, but they were making too much fuss.

Then Li Xiaohan wanted to make up for it, "Dad, if the clan leader hasn't come back after you finish your meal, you have to go to the fields to see the wheat seedlings. It's snowing."

Sure enough, there were a few scattered snowflakes floating in the gray sky. You wouldn't know it unless you looked carefully.

The first snow in the 23rd year of Taihe has finally arrived.

Sure enough, when it came to the wheat seedlings and the snow, Li Xiandong's mind immediately returned to his original position. He would cook first and go to see the wheat seedlings later. Be sure not to frostbite the wheat seedlings.

Whether the emperor dies his wife or his son has little to do with them, but if the wheat seedlings get frostbite, it will matter a lot.

Whether we can have enough to eat next year is a question, and it has a big bearing on it.

In the evening, the clan leader finally came back, and the question of whether the emperor's wife or his son should be dead finally had an answer.

The emperor's son is dead, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is dead.

Alas, it is quite miserable for His Majesty the Emperor to lose his son at a young age, but he is still the destined heir, his beloved eldest son, and His Majesty the Emperor.

However, in the mind of the brainwashed Li Xiandong, this does not have as big an impact on his family as the first snow this winter.

In fact, how could it not be big? There are no eggs left behind when the nest is overturned. When the tide comes, no one can resist it and can only go with the tide.

And some people have already begun to guess which direction the trend is going, so that they can follow it.

For example, after running around the clan leader's house for a long time to comfort the frightened clan members, clan leader Li was finally able to sit quietly in the study and think about certain things.

"The prince passed away, what do you think next?"

The study was quiet at the moment, it was already sunset, and there was only a dim oil lamp lit in the study, which reflected very dim light on people.

But no matter how dim the environment was, nothing was as shocking as the patriarch's question at this time.

Unexpectedly, I thought this was a secret meeting and conversation between the first-class ministers of the country and the government in the capital, rather than the study room of an old village patriarch.

But the next moment, Li Xinhe's reply was also very fierce, "It's just that there are direct descendants, but no direct descendants. It has nothing to do with us."

"Confused. We are under the rule of King Ding. King Ding is the remaining eldest son. He has also made outstanding military achievements. It cannot be said that he is not worthy. If King Ding comes to power, then we, as King Ding's former territory, will be able to take the imperial examination. Your reputation will definitely improve. Xinhe, this is your chance."

The patriarch's words were serious and thoughtful. Under such an astonishing topic, the purpose was to gain a scholar's name for his infant son.

It can be considered a big plan.

Li Xinhe pursed his lips, obviously unwilling to rely on this to get to the top, but in the end he gave in and sighed, "Dad, you think too much. What's the use of talking about it now."

"What's the use! I asked you to prepare early. No matter how many places there are, there are only a limited number of places. You have to squeeze forward."

"Dad, I understand." Li Xinhe sighed.

Even Patriarch Li and his son can talk about topics in private, but the higher the level, the more difficult it is to talk about it, especially a series of people under the command of King Ding.

Everyone's sad faces shone with knowing thoughts.

Your Majesty only has three sons alive. The prince died, leaving only King Ding and King Qi. Compared with King Qi, King Ding is now both elder and wiser.

In the residence of General Zhang Zhen under King Ding, the general and the eldest son are often away from home, and the military camp is their home. The wife in the General's Mansion was ill and taking medicine to recuperate, leaving the second young master alone to play black and white Go.

The black and white chess pieces are in a stalemate, and the two dragons are competing for the pearl. Which move will be made first?

The second son, Zhang Fu, thought for a long time, but finally moved a chess piece from the rear.

The soldiers and horses have not moved, but the food and grass go first.

"Ask the shopkeeper of Renhe Tangluo to come and see me."

"Yes, Second Young Master."

Shopkeeper Luo came quickly. For no reason, or at this special moment, shopkeeper Luo really couldn't figure out what the second young master wanted to do with him.

Taking a sneak peek, the second young master seemed to be concentrating on playing Go with him. Shopkeeper Luo didn't understand Go and couldn't get into the conversation.

Fortunately, Shopkeeper Luo didn't have to think too hard to interrupt the topic. The second young master spoke on his own, "You reported last time that the Li family in Pingshan Village discovered that the bark of Eucommia ulmoides can grow back after being harvested?"

Is it because of this? Such a small thing?

Shopkeeper Luo didn't really know, but that didn't stop him from reporting respectfully: "Yes. I heard that as long as the tree is not cut, the bark will grow back after being cut."

"How many Eucommia trees are there in Pingshan Village?"

"There are probably dozens more. They came to Renhetang and asked about the price. They are probably afraid that if time goes by, if Renhetang cuts the price too hard, they might as well harvest them all now."

"Well." Shopkeeper Luo looked at the second young master giving birth to another son, and said to himself, "Look for an opportunity to sign a contract with the Li family. Those Eucommia trees in the Pingshan Village family, we Renhe Tang Quan wants it."

"Second Young Master, our Renhetang now has about a thousand kilograms of Eucommia in stock. Although Dr. Zhang has researched new effects of Eucommia, it should be enough." Shopkeeper Luo wanted to express his merit for himself.

"What I want is not that we have enough. What I want is that others don't have enough."

Exclusive monopoly! At that time, Renhetang will not have the final say on what the price will be. Buy as high as you want.

The second young master's words were very plain, but in Shopkeeper Luo's ears they were deafening.

"Yes, Second Young Master."

Shopkeeper Luo responded with a trembling voice, thinking that he had grasped the ambition of the second young master, and his heart was filled with passion.

Unexpectedly, the second young master spoke again, "Collect all the Eucommia trees and publicize the effectiveness of the Eucommia trees after the time has passed. We don't eat alone. If there are other medicine halls that want Eucommia bark, we can." Reasonable transfer, exchange and support among peers. It's just such a good thing, don't accept money, don't be tainted with the smell of copper. Just use medicinal materials in exchange. Winter is approaching over the border, and there may be Beirong invaders, so prepare more swords and guns vulnerary."

"yes."

Shopkeeper Luo felt sad that his ambition was quickly extinguished, but when he thought about it, Shopkeeper Luo understood that the second young master was not interested in money, but wanted to win status and become the leader in the industry.

Thinking of this, Shopkeeper Luo said excitedly, "Second Young Master, I will definitely make good friends with my peers and build our Renhetang into the leader in the medicine hall industry."

The second young master finally raised his head from Go and looked at Shopkeeper Luo deeply and strangely. After a moment, his bright red thin lips smiled softly, expressing the appreciation from the superior, " Yes, Shopkeeper Luo, you are right, that's what you're doing."

As expected, he is a noble young man, very approachable.

"Yes, Second Young Master. I will definitely do it well."

Shopkeeper Luo, who loves to ponder the thoughts of his superiors, believes that he has once again succeeded in guessing Dong's intentions and will soon become his confidant. He was filled with joy for a moment and geared up, "The second young master, my subordinates will retire to do their work."

"Yes, go ahead."

Let's not talk about the impact of this decision on Pingshan Village in the future. At present, everyone is still under the shadow of the death knell. Everyone has temporarily put aside any activities and only carries out some daily activities.

However, as Li Xiaohan said, the impact of the emperor's death on Li Xiandong was not as great as the first snowfall in early winter.

Therefore, after the clan leader brought back the stipulations of seven days of mourning and the prohibition of any noise at happy events, it was a pity that the two red lanterns could no longer be hung up after only a few days. That's all.

As for happy events, Li Xiandong's family has no happy events. It's not yet time for the village to accept weddings on a large scale. It will have to wait until winter is deeper, and all the work in the fields is finished, and the villagers have time. Busy with these happy events.

On the third day, the gates of Fucheng had been opened, and Master Han and his two apprentices hurriedly came to work again.

It's just that this time Master Han and others were more respectful. Li Xiaohan thought that this was a special period. Master Han and others were cautious in their words and deeds. Li Xiandong was careless and could not have imagined it.

So, seven days passed. In Pingshan Village, the impact of the six death knells gradually disappeared, and everyone's life returned to normal.

It has even returned to normal. After all, we can't get married, so other work is normal. Li Xiandong's well has been dug, and they are waiting for the bricks and stones to arrive and pave the ground quickly.

What happened in Tianjia was just a gust of wind blowing in Pingshan Village, and it did not affect everyone's life on earth.

Master Han and others went to Li Guiqian's house. Li Xiandong finally got around and transported the last batch of Eucommia ulmoides to Renhetang to sell.

In front of Li's house, Wang and Li Xiandong drove the ox cart borrowed from the patriarch's house and carefully put the Eucommia ulmoides on the ox cart.

After finishing loading the Eucommia ulmoides, Li Xiandong got in front to drive the car. Wang stood aside, turned around and asked anxiously: "Xiaohan, are you really not going with us?"

I felt a little uneasy going to Renhetang without my daughter.

Even Li Xiandong looked over.

"I'm not going. Mom, you go with dad and see Dr. Zhang for a follow-up visit. Remember to bring the medicine back. Your medicine is gone. I'm looking after the house and I have some things to do."

Li Xiandong and Wang had gone to Fucheng several times, and now it was time for them to face it independently. Li Xiaohan cruelly refused.

Being cruelly rejected by his daughter, Li Xiandong showed disappointment on his face, but he still turned around and drove.

But Wang was still timid, looking from left to Li Xiandong and right to Li Xiaohan, the hope in her eyes was self-evident.

It's a pity that Li Xiaohan was unmoved, "Mom, let's go."

Wang finally gave up and turned back three times to follow Li Xiandong.

Li Xiaohan turned around and slammed the door of Li's house.

Regarding the issue of peeling cotton seeds, she already had some ideas. Now I'm just waiting to test it out when no one is home.

Not far away, Li Xiandong and Wang sighed lightly or heavily, and the ox cart finally picked up speed and walked out of the village.

The old cow mooed twice to express his urgency: I'm already impatient. It's such a grind and walking so slowly. When can I get to Fucheng? Can you still make it back in time to eat the straw for lunch?

Today's people really can't let Lao Niu worry about it.

=== Chapter === 41

After seeing off Li Xiandong and Wang, Li Xiaohan returned home and prepared to test his own tools for stripping cotton seeds.

What Li Xiaohan wanted to do was a comb for combing cotton, similar to the pet combing brushes of later generations - the comb teeth should be thin and dense, and arranged in an orderly manner. If the two combs are rubbed together, the cotton and cotton seeds should be separated.

There is no suitable metal or plastic for the comb teeth, so Li Xiaohan plans to use bamboo instead.

There is a kind of bamboo called dianthus in Pingshan Village, which is very hard. The grown bamboo is perfect for making bamboo stools, bamboo fences, etc.

Even better, when this kind of bamboo is still tender, it will become very flexible through proper fire roasting, making it a good material for weaving dustpans and baskets.

This kind of bamboo has many benefits, but it also has disadvantages. The disadvantage is that it grows slowly.

Ordinary bamboo can be used in three to five years. This kind of bamboo takes five years to weave bamboo baskets, and it takes ten years to mature to make benches and furniture.

Fortunately, the Li family has a large mountainous area. Whether it is the common land within the clan or the land allocated to the clan members, they have cultivated a lot. Anyway, they are all members of the Li clan who come and go, so they cannot take advantage of outsiders. Everyone has the patience to wait for the bamboo to grow.

If you can't wait to use bamboo, you can just go to the mountains of your clan and cut a few bamboos. There is no need to plant ordinary bamboos in a hurry. The dustpans and benches made of dianthus are much easier to use than those made of ordinary bamboo.

Li Xiandong's house was newly built, and the commonly used tools like dustpans, bamboo baskets, and backpacks were missing. Therefore, whenever Li Xiandong was free, he was always breaking bamboo, roasting bamboo, and breaking bamboo strips. He had a lot of dianthus at home. Bundle.

Li Xiaohan was afraid that his idea would not work, so he wanted to try it out by making a crude product first.

However, Li Xiaohan overestimated his handicraftsmanship. After grinding for a long time, Li Xiaohan grinded out a few bamboo sticks.

In the past, when I watched Li Xiandong break bamboo, roast bamboo, peel bamboo strips, and weave bamboo baskets, the bamboo seemed to be alive under his hands. He could twist it in any direction, and his ten thick fingers were as nimble as Integrate with bamboo.

And Li Xiaohan looked at himself. He originally wanted to make the chopsticks as large and well-proportioned as exquisite toothpicks, but now they are only a little better than low-quality disposable chopsticks.

Several times during the process, I even almost hurt myself.

Li Xiaohan sighed deeply, is it because his brain said he has learned it for a while, and his hands said desperately that I don't have it, I don't have it.

Sure enough, you shouldn't be afraid of failure in this kind of work, just ask her father to try it out directly.

Just as he was chanting, the sound of wheels sounded outside the door, and Li Xiandong's voice rang out: "Xiaohan, open the door, it's us who are back."

Li Xiaohan had doubts in his heart. The sound of wheels didn't sound like the patriarch's ox cart? But it was indeed Li Xiandong's voice.

Li Xiaohan quickly stepped forward and opened the door. In front of the door, he saw Li Xiandong driving the patriarch's ox cart in front, followed closely by a carriage with a gray curtain. The driver was wearing gray coarse cloth and he did not recognize him.

When the carriage stopped, the door curtain of the carriage was opened, and Shopkeeper Luo of Renhetang and Doctor Zhang walked out of the carriage.

What's going on? Why did Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang come to my home? Your home doesn't have such a large amount of energy, right?

Xu Shi saw Li Xiaohan's doubts, and Li Xiandong explained: "When I went to Renhetang, the shopkeeper asked us how many eucommia we still had, so I said this was the last batch. But there are still eucommia trees in the family. If we harvest them, The skin of Eucommia ulmoides grows quickly, and it is expected to continue to grow. Dr. Zhang and Shopkeeper Luo were very surprised when they heard that eucommia bark can regrow its skin after being cut, so they followed me back to have a look."

After listening to Li Xiandong's explanation, Li Xiaohan became more confused: Just because of the skin growth of Eucommia ulmoides, Doctor Zhang and Shopkeeper Luo of Renhetang needed to come to this small mountain village together? Are you paying too much attention to it? Could something have happened?

Thinking this way, Li Xiaohan did not directly ask whether Party A's father's visit was so difficult that he could refuse it.

In particular, Li Xiaohan respects Dr. Zhang very much. Dr. Zhang said that because she is short, he wants her to take more nutrition, which is Li Xiaohan's biggest weapon now that she can eat well and drink well.

However, if you want to see Eucommia ulmoides after its bark has been cut, you should go to the community common land. There are about a dozen Eucommia ulmoides trees whose bark has been harvested at different times on the common land, which is suitable for observation.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan said with a smile: "It is rare for Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang to come, so naturally we are very welcome. But if we want to see the Eucommia tree, dad should take Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang to the patriarch's house. How can we get around it?" Have you come home? Nowadays, the Eucommia trees that remain in public land after being harvested have the most common land."

"I heard from Brother Li that we also used Eucommia seeds to cultivate Eucommia seedlings at home. I couldn't help but be curious and came to take a look. Excuse me." Shopkeeper Luo said with a smile.

Having dealt with the Li family several times, Shopkeeper Luo knows a lot about this family.

Li Xiandong is a capable farm man. At first glance, he looks like someone who has been doing farm work all year round. However, he talks little and is reserved. In short, the advantages and disadvantages of a farmer are very obvious.

Not to mention Ms. Wang, shopkeeper Luo couldn't pay more attention to her, she looked like a typical and ordinary farm woman.

On the contrary, their daughter, Li Xiaohan, was like a manifestation of her ancestors, and she was not at all like the child of this couple. She is clever, generous and decent, and not timid, so when she was in Renhetang, the family was headed by her daughter, Li Xiaohan.

Now, in order to realize the grand ambition of the second young master and for his own higher career, Shopkeeper Luo came to Pingshan Village with a mission. Naturally, he had to work with the man who first discovered the Eucommia tree and spread the processed Eucommia skin. Li Xiaohan and Miss Li established a good relationship.

The shopkeeper was thinking in his mind, but his face showed an easy-going smile.

Li Xiaohan looked at the smiling shopkeeper and suddenly showed a similar smiling smile, "In that case, please invite the shopkeeper and Dr. Zhang to come in together. They are just a dozen small seedlings planted next to the vegetable field for next year's crops. Spring planting for experiments."

In fact, because the seeds of Eucommia ulmoides contain a large amount of colloid, it is difficult to germinate when sown directly. This is why Pingshan Village has had the habit of smoking meat with Eucommia ulmoides for so many years, but it has been difficult to use the seeds. Seedlings can only be raised by cuttings and branches.

What Li Xiaohan was experimenting with was the seed soaking method of later generations, which was to soak the seeds in warm water at 20 degrees for 3 days, change the water once a day, wait until the seeds swelled, then take them out, and destroy the seed coat manually. However, the embryo should not be damaged before sowing, which can effectively increase the germination rate.

There are many Eucommia seeds, but why the old farmers in Pingshan Village are willing to listen to Li Xiaohan is that everyone has tried it to some extent, and only the Eucommia seeds planted by Li Xiaohan have truly germinated.

After welcoming a few people into the gate, Li Xiaohan said to Mrs. Wang, "Mom, it's rare for the shopkeeper and doctor of Renhetang to come over. Please go to the patriarch's house to see if the patriarch is there, lest dad bring people over later. When the clan leader is not here, we lose our hospitality."

What Li Xiaohan said was very reasonable. If shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang were to go to the clan commons to see the eucommia trees, they could not skip Patriarch Li's visit under any circumstances.

Now that everyone is looking at the seedlings first, it is reasonable and reasonable to take this opportunity to inform the clan leader so that the clan leader is not caught off guard.

This is a superficial reason, but privately, Li Xiaohan has his own considerations.

Logically speaking, things are rare and expensive. Eucommia bark is sold now, especially if it can still be planted and harvested in the future, the price may drop.

However, shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang came here in person, which shows that they attach great importance to Eucommia ulmoides.

These two relatively contradictory pieces of information must be taken into consideration by the patriarch and the third uncle, two mature old foxes.

How to establish a good cooperative relationship with Renhetang and seek long-term cooperative benefits for the clan, according to the clan leader's consistent style, the clan leader has no choice but to define.

As a member of the Li family, Li Xiaohan naturally has to consider the family. After all, if the clan is better, their family will be better off.

So Li Xiaohan asked Wang to go there first to make a time difference, at least to give the clan leader and his third uncle time to think and prepare.

However, this off-screen meaning was probably only understood by Shopkeeper Luo, who was smiling even more. Doctor Zhang was thinking about Eucommia ulmoides seedlings. Li Xiandong and Wang only heard the literal meaning, "Yes." Mother, please go to the patriarch's house first and say something, and we'll go there later."

"Hey." Wang passed the basket to Li Xiandong and hurried to the patriarch's home.

Li Xiandong took the basket and led several people through the door.

As soon as Shopkeeper Luo and others entered the door, they first saw the main hall of the Li family. The Li family has a typical layout of two side rooms facing each other. There is a well platform in the yard that has not yet been completely completed. Strings of yellow persimmons hang under the eaves. There are several dustpans hanging half-dried in the open space. Dates.

Neat, abundant, and warm are the reflections of this small farmhouse.

The only thing that is out of place is the messy bamboo sticks, bamboo strip knives and other tools on the ground in the southwest corner that have not yet been cleaned up. When it comes to bamboo chopsticks, they are too small. When it comes to toothpicks, they are too big. It's still rough and uneven in thickness, and I can't tell what it is.

"Well, I was just about to make something, and I didn't have time to clean it up at the moment." Li Xiaohan explained awkwardly, leading everyone around the messy place to the eucommia seedling nursery behind the house.

Everyone didn't mind this and walked through the front room to the vegetable patch in the backyard.

It is just a seedling field one step apart in length and width, covered with a thin layer of withered grass. You have to look very carefully to vaguely see the newly born seedlings in the withered grass.

"That's it?" The shopkeeper couldn't believe it.

"That's it." Li Xiaohan smiled and replied calmly, "We found that the Eucommia ulmoides tree can grow like this in less than half a month."

It's good to grow like this. This is the first batch of eucommia seeds to be harvested and we started cultivating them right away. The remaining seeds were put away because of the cold weather.

"You can't tell it's Eucommia seedlings." The shopkeeper muttered.

"This is indeed invisible. If you believe it, shopkeeper, it is. If you don't believe it, shopkeeper, we can't convince you, right?"

Li Xiaohan explained seriously, "But think about it, is there any way we can set up a game in advance to deceive you? Come to my house, my father will definitely not be able to persuade you. It's you who wants to come." wrong."

"That's true."

The shopkeeper is still confident in himself. How can a medicine hall shopkeeper like him be manipulated by an honest old farmer?

Besides, not many people knew that I was planning to come to Pingshan Village. Li Xiandong definitely doesn't know.

So, I guess it's really a coincidence. This Eucommia seedling is real, but it hasn't grown yet.

The shopkeeper murmured in his heart that Doctor Zhang didn't have that many mental activities. During the conversation between the two, he had already squatted underground to carefully observe these seedlings.

However, as the shopkeeper said, it is still too small to be observed at all, and it is impossible to determine whether it is Eucommia seedlings.

After looking left and right for a long time, Doctor Zhang stood up helplessly and admitted that he could not confirm whether it was Eucommia ulmoides seedlings. After all, Dr. Zhang is just a doctor, not an experienced herbal farmer.

However, when I glanced to the side with my peripheral vision, there was a patch of land about one foot in size that was raising seedlings, as if sporadic young leaves were growing.

There is straw piled next to it, probably for "keeping warm at night". Although the weather is slightly cold today, the sun is shining brightly. Apparently the Li family lifted the straw to let the seedlings receive sunlight.

With such careful care, Dr. Zhang thought they were Eucommia seedlings and asked out of curiosity, "Are those over there too?"

Li Xiaohan followed Doctor Zhang's gaze and looked over, paused slightly and said, "That's not true, that's another seedling. The family moved late, so many of these things were planted late."

Li Xiaohan didn't say what kind of seedling it was, but he cleverly explained another direction.

Doctor Zhang squinted his eyes and took a closer look. Although he was still young, he could still tell that it was different from the Eucommia seedlings. Doctor Zhang lost interest. He was not curious about the seedlings in other people's vegetable gardens.

Probably some vegetable seedlings. Doctor Zhang thought so and let go.

After seeing the Eucommia seedlings, shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang had nothing else to do, so they thought of going to the patriarch's house.

However, the clan leader has already arrived.

"Shopkeeper Luo, Doctor Zhang, welcome you to our village. It's such an honor."

Wang was afraid of delaying things, so she trotted to the patriarch's house.

When the patriarch heard that Shopkeeper Luo and Dr. Zhang from Renhetang were coming, he couldn't wait for Shopkeeper Luo and Dr. Zhang to come to the door, so he quickly took his son Li Xinhe to Li Xiandong's house.

When dealing with outsiders like this, the clan leader never forgot Brother Xinhe.

When Li Xiaohan saw Li Xinhe beside the patriarch, he couldn't help but think about it.

What is teaching by words and deeds, nothing more than that.

"Clan Chief Li, you're welcome. I heard that the Li family discovered that the eucommia trees can grow new skin after being harvested. I was really curious, so I rashly interrupted." The shopkeeper greeted him with a smile.

"Shopkeeper Luo is really too polite. If Renhetang hadn't been buying this Eucommia tree all the time, we wouldn't have been able to find it in order to continue our development. Why don't we go over to our clan's common land and take a look at it together now?"

"Okay, I have this intention in mind, so I'll be shameless enough to trouble Patriarch Li."

"No trouble, no trouble. Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang are coming with me." The patriarch took the lead enthusiastically.

Not to mention that this Eucommia ulmoides will continue to be sold to Renhetang in the future, just to be able to establish friendship with the shopkeeper and doctors of Renhetang is worth it - who can guarantee that you will not suffer from three disasters and five diseases? .

"Dad, follow me."

Li Xiaohan pushed Li Xiandong who was motionless at the side, hoping that Li Xiandong would also be influenced by the clan leader, "You are the best at cutting eucommia bark in the village. If shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang want to see it, you can give it to them." Demo demo."

"Ah. Oh."

Li Xiandong was pushed slightly, but he still couldn't recover. He thought that the clan leader had come and his affairs were over. Apart from crops, he really didn't know what to say when dealing with people.

"Xiandong, follow me. You taught me to cut all the Eucommia ulmoides in our clan. Xiaohan, follow me too."

Hearing what the clan leader said, Li Xiandong quickly followed. Li Xiaohan naturally followed her father, not forgetting to whisper a few words to Mr. Wang before leaving.

The group of people immediately left Li Xiandong's house and climbed to the clan common land.

Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang, who had not exercised for a long time, were out of breath after walking, but after seeing Eucommia ulmoides, it was all worth it.

"The bark can really grow back." Dr. Zhang and Shopkeeper Luo were amazed at the newly grown layer of yellow-green bark. "It's just that the bark won't die after being peeled off, but it can actually grow back."

"The medicinal properties of the newly grown bark are definitely weaker than those of the old bark. We have to wait until the bark grows older and try again then."

Doctor Zhang carefully took out a knife, cut off a small piece of bark, put it in his mouth and tasted it.

"Yes, yes, we will send it to Renhe Hall for the doctors to take a look at."

As long as it can be recognized by Renhetang, the medicinal properties of the new bark will be even more unquestionable.

"Well, come find me then."

Doctor Zhang immediately took over the task without hesitation, and Shopkeeper Luo couldn't stop him even if he wanted to.

Forget it, Dr. Zhang is a doctor, so long as he is good at treating diseases, let him do the other twists and turns.

"Clan Chief Li's common land is so uncensorable that you can't see its end at a glance. I wonder how many Eucommia ulmoides there are in the clan?"

If it is too much, it will be difficult to sell it at a high price. The effectiveness of Eucommia ulmoides has not yet been announced, so the initiative is still in your own hands.

"No matter how much it is, it is the wealth left by our ancestors to our people. We naturally cherish it and we will definitely not eat up all the wealth of our descendants in our generation."

We won't sell it if it's cheap. The trees are here anyway, so we can keep them and take our time.

"I heard that the Li family has been passed down for a long time, and now that I can see it, it is indeed well-deserved."

Shopkeeper Luo praised it highly.

"Don't dare, don't dare, just listen to the ancestors and make a living, Renhetang will become more and more prosperous."

Patriarch Li is humble and self-deprecating.

…

Li Xiaohan listened to the two old foxes going back and forth, being alert all the way, and suddenly said to Doctor Zhang, "Doctor Zhang, what is the greatest effect of Eucommia ulmoides? To prevent miscarriage? To repair the body? To stop bleeding? To save life?"

In fact, Li Xiaohan knew that the most famous effects of Eucommia ulmoides in later generations were to nourish the kidneys and prevent miscarriage, but she couldn't say it directly in front of these people.

Doctor Zhang was stunned by the question and turned to look at Shopkeeper Luo.

Li Xiaohan continued, "The fact that you two came from the city in person shows that you attach great importance to Eucommia ulmoides. As a kind of Chinese medicinal material, its effects are just a few. Since we are sincere, why not have an honest talk? ."

Li Xiaohan interrupted the confrontation between shopkeeper Luo and the clan leader with a sharp sword. After a moment, shopkeeper Luo sighed: "Euccommia ulmoides is indeed effective for people with weak Qi and weak bodies, especially women with miscarriage. Our medicine hall is the same." So I want long-term cooperation, after all, sporadic supply is also troublesome."

The efficacy of anti-abortion was recently researched by Dr. Zhang and a group of doctors from Renhetang. The time had just come and the seven days of mourning had ended, so shopkeeper Luo publicized it to strengthen the reputation of Eucommia ulmoides.

As for the other function of Eucommia ulmoides, which is to replenish kidney qi, we can never say that any man has the nerve to use this medicine. If we say that their medicine hall is just cheating themselves.

Li Xiaohan was silent after hearing this. The use of traditional Chinese medicine has been accumulated for thousands of years. She is really not sure to what extent the medicinal properties of Eucommia ulmoides have been studied in this era. "In that case, let's ask the patriarch to make a decision. "

Relying on her knowledge of Eucommia ulmoides in her previous life, she named the efficacy of Eucommia ulmoides and intervened in the confrontation between Patriarch Li and Shopkeeper Luo. In fact, she was adding chips to these Eucommia ulmoides on the common land of her clan.

Now it seems that Renhetang is very sincere in telling this news, so the final decision should be made by Patriarch Li.

Patriarch Li pondered for a while, then murmured with Shopkeeper Luo for two rounds, and finally reached an agreement.

"Then I made an agreement with Renhetang on behalf of the Li family. Within three years, the price of Eucommia ulmoides will remain unchanged. All the Eucommia ulmoides in the public land of the Li family will be sold to Renhetang. Three years later, we We will discuss it based on the specific situation, and if the price is the same, both parties will be the first choice for cooperation."

In fact, in the short term, if we talk about it, the price of Eucommia trees may rise. However, if it rises, those who sold Eucommia trees before may feel that they have suffered a loss, which may easily cause people's unrest. Therefore, the patriarch set an original price.

Moreover, if the price of Eucommia ulmoides has increased, it may spread. The mountains in their area contain Eucommia ulmoides. As for the mountains in other places, Patriarch Li does not think that his place is some kind of paradise. When the discovery is made in other places, the price of Eucommia ulmoides will drop. , and people's hearts are unstable.

It is better to seek long-term and stable development.

"Okay, I agree to this agreement on behalf of Renhetang. When we get back later, we will sign the document."

The two principals reached an agreement, and the atmosphere became very harmonious for a while.

When we came down from the mountain, there was nothing to do, so we must leave shopkeeper Luo and Dr. Zhang for lunch.

However, the meal was not ready yet, and everyone was tired and thirsty after climbing the mountain, so the patriarch's family gave them warm honey water.

"What is this? Where does it come from?" Patriarch Li asked. They don't have this thing at home. It looks dark, but it smells sweet and fragrant, even with a hint of pear.

"This is what I asked my mother to bring from home. It is the pear paste made from the golden autumn pear fruit after removing the pomace. Please give Doctor Zhang and Shopkeeper Luo a try. You two are well-informed. Look at us. Does the pear paste taste good? Is it considered a type of medicinal food? Can it be sold at a high price?"

Li Xiaohan introduced generously, and Patriarch Li nodded immediately after hearing this: There are many pear trees in the clan, and if this pear paste can be sold at a high price, it will be another business opportunity.

Try the pear paste and taste it. The person is so generous and praises them for their knowledge. Naturally, Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang will not refuse.

Doctor Zhang and Shopkeeper Luo took a sip at the same time.

Li Xiaohan watched, Doctor Zhang first tasted a small sip, then smacked his lips, frowned slightly, tasted it for a while, and then said: "It's pear paste made from pure pears. Boil it." The people here are very attentive and added some Sichuan clams. This combination is very good, moistening the lungs and relieving coughs, promoting body fluids and soothing the throat. It nourishes yang in spring and summer, and nourishes the lungs in autumn and winter. It is very good for daily drinking. "

Shopkeeper Luo listened to Dr. Zhang's words and just raised his head and drank it all in one gulp. He said with a smile: "Let's not talk about the medicinal properties. This pear ointment is extremely pure. It has a pear aroma after brewing. It is so delicious. I drink a cup every day." , that's extremely beautiful."

Patriarch Li was naturally very happy to be recognized by Doctor Zhang and appreciated by Shopkeeper Luo.

Li Xiaohan smiled and made another bowl for Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang. Maybe they were tired from climbing the mountain and were thirsty, so Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang finished the drink again.

It's a pity that I'm just having a drink and have no interest in purchasing. I don't think I will come to Renhetang to purchase this kind of food.

However, it is an unexpected gain to be able to get Dr. Zhang's saying "nourishes the Yang in spring and summer, and nourishes the lungs in autumn and winter". After all, Dr. Zhang of Renhetang said it is right, so drinking it in autumn and winter is naturally suitable.

Li Xiaohan is happy, don't be in a hurry, take your time.

After drinking the pear paste water, it was soon time for lunch. Patriarch Li warmly invited Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang to stay for dinner, but Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang did not refuse.

Naturally, farm food is not as refined as in the city, but it is better than having a country taste.

Pheasant stewed with mushrooms, sauerkraut braised small fish, steamed bacon, fresh meat and shepherd's purse dumplings...

"This chicken soup is good, fresh and fragrant." Shopkeeper Luo Ba Mian Linglong praised, "The fresh meat and shepherd's purse dumplings are also good, with a unique taste."

"Hahaha, shopkeeper Luo can eat more if he likes it."

Patriarch Li showed the enthusiasm of the host, and shopkeeper Luo was also a well-rounded person, creating a harmonious atmosphere at the dinner table.

However, Li Xiaohan carefully noticed that her father, Li Xiandong, seemed very uncomfortable at that table. He kept eating and didn't say much.

After drinking and eating, Doctor Zhang and Shopkeeper Luo said goodbye and got on the carriage back to the city.

After saying goodbye to the two of them, Li Xiaohan noticed that her father's body language had relaxed a lot, and his whole body was no longer tense.

"Xiaohan, you did a good job today. This batch of Eucommia ulmoides in the clan will not have to worry about it in the future." Patriarch Li praised with a hint of drunkenness.

"The clan leaders are all members of the Li family. When the clan is better, we will also benefit. No matter what the two families say."

Li Xiaohan really thought so. Although their family did not have any, the orphans and widows in the clan still received their share of money and goods.

In this world, that is really good.

The patriarch was obviously much happy, and his whole person was full of joy, "It's good if you can think so, it's good if you can think so."

He turned his head and said, "Xiandong, you are also very good. You teach me very well."

Li Xiandong's face flushed and she didn't know what to say. Li Xiaohan said on behalf of her father, "Clan leader, my father knows. You are tired and drunk. Go back and rest. Let's go back first."

We are over 40 years old. We climbed a mountain and drank some wine with him. We didn't get drunk, but I guess I was really happy because otherwise the patriarch would have been much less arrogant.

Li Xinhe on the side also tried to persuade him, "Dad, you should rest first."

"Okay." The clan leader nodded.

Li Xiaohan and Li Xinhe nodded, said goodbye and went home.

After leaving the patriarch's house, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong set foot on the uninhabited village road. Suddenly, Li Xiaohan raised his head and looked at his father and asked, "Dad, I asked you to accompany me. Do you feel very embarrassed?" ."

"Um...no, I don't feel anything." Li Xiandong said natteringly, but in the end, under his daughter's big black and white eyes, he still told the truth, "Yes...a little bit, a little bit uncomfortable." Get used to it. I don't know what to do if you're not here."

"Xiaohan, is dad useless?" Li Xiandong asked anxiously.

Although he is clumsy in words, he is not stupid in heart. Naturally, he knows that his daughter has been trying to find ways to let him communicate with more people.

But for more than thirty years, he has always been unable to speak and only immersed himself in doing things. Now it is really difficult to change.

Li Xiaohan paused for a while and said with a little guilt, "Dad, I got it wrong. It doesn't matter if I can't speak or socialize with others. Then we won't talk about it from now on."

"Wouldn't that be bad?"

Li Xiandong knew that there was something wrong with his temperament. Now that the family was separated, as the head of the family, he needed to intervene in many things.

But the fact is that his thirteen-year-old daughter supports his responsibility. And I can't teach it myself.

"It can't be bad." Li Xiaohan knew that his father was not confident, "You see, Doctor Zhang is not very good at talking. He is so straightforward that you can tell at a glance, but when will Shopkeeper Luo, who can talk, dare to look down on Doctor Zhang? Even if I take a sip of pear paste water, I will wait until Dr. Zhang tastes it before I dare to eat it."

Li Xiandong smiled relaxedly. That's true. Although he didn't observe that carefully, he respected Doctor Zhang very much.

Li Xiaohan added, "Although you can't speak, Dad, you are very handy. Dad, how well did you cut the Eucommia ulmoides today? You also made the fruit picker and the dustpan and basket at home. .Dad, you have a very powerful side of yourself. You can't be great at everything, you just have to have one or two great things of your own."

Since there is no way to make up for the shortcomings, then strengthen the strong points.

Li Xiandong was very affected by this. He lacked recognition in the first half of his life, but he was happy. He said seriously, "My daughter is better than me."

Li Xiaohan suddenly thought of the messy bamboo sticks at home and the cotton comb that was far from what he imagined. He couldn't help but blush, "I have some things that I can't do. Dad, can you help me make a bamboo cotton comb when I get home?" ?"

"What kind of cotton comb? Okay." Although I don't know what a cotton comb is, it's said to be made of bamboo, so it's not difficult to find the ingredients. Li Xiandong answered confidently.

The distance back to Li's house from the village chief's house was not far, and Wang had already finished her meal at home alone. The clan leader's house was inviting guests, but Wang couldn't help, so he stopped going.

Since the whole family is free, they come to sort this cotton comb.

The disobedient bamboo in Li Xiaohan's hands is like dough in Li Xiandong's hands, and he can play with it how he wants.

"Yes, cut the bamboo stick as thin as a needle, with one end pointed and the other big. But it should be half shorter." Li Xiaohan said happily.

"Mom, please help me make a thin insole, and then use a thimble to align the rows of small holes. I want to insert these bamboo sticks."

"Oh. I happen to have the half-made shoe sole at home. I'll go get it."

On a good afternoon, the parents did not do any serious farm work. Instead, they were happily doing these things that they had never done before.

"It's done, let me take a look."

Li Xiaohan looked around at the cotton combs, which looked very similar to the pet hair brushes of later generations.

It's just that the comb teeth are made of bamboo, which is still different from those of later generations. However, people in this era cherish things very much, and they just replace them if they are broken. Most people have very clever hands.

"Here, let me comb the cotton and try it."

=== Chapter === 42

Two cotton combs were made. Li Xiaohan put a ball of cotton on the left comb, then aligned it with the right side, and brushed it. After a few moments, the cotton was separated from the cotton seeds.

Li Xiandong and Wang were both stunned, "This... this comb is so easy to use."

"Just comb it against each other, and the cotton and cotton seeds will be separated. It's fast and fluffy, and it's not stiff at all." Wang turned the combed cotton over and over, looking at it with light in her eyes and admiration.

"No." Li Xiandong was also amazed. He didn't expect that such a useful thing could be made by his own hands.

Li Xiaohan was not fooled by the compliment and continued to operate, but he always felt a little uncomfortable.

"Dad, Mom, come and try."

Wang and Li Xiandong took turns trying it, and they felt that compared with manually peeling cotton seeds, it was better and faster, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Li Xiaohan tried it out for a while, and then realized that the sole made of this insole was a bit too soft, making it difficult to apply force. If you use too much force, it will be easy to let go.

"How about I make it a little thicker, then sew two straps on the back and put it on the back of my hand to fix it." After hearing what Li Xiaohan said, Wang said hesitantly.

"Okay, mother, try it."

It was rare for Ms. Wang to be affirmed, so she immediately started sewing with enthusiasm. Li Xiandong was not idle and continued to peel bamboo sticks. They only had two cotton combs, at least one for each person was enough.

Li Xiandong and Wang were doing handicrafts with great interest. After understanding the purpose of the cotton comb, they thought about it and made a bump at the end of the comb teeth. The comb teeth would no longer come out of the shoe insole. Running out, the other one adjusted the thickness of the insole to just the right size.

Li Xiaohan was the only one who almost cut his hand while peeling a bamboo skewer. The finished product was not smooth at all. He used a thimble to punch holes in the insole. The holes were crooked and almost ruined Wang's piece. insole.

Helpless, Li Xiaohan could only stand aside, combing the cotton with the first two cotton combs, brushing, brushing, brushing. In one afternoon, he actually combed out a small basket of cotton.

It seemed that her hand was not irreparably damaged yet.

"Father, mother, I will comb the cotton. You can continue to make this cotton comb. Make more and we will sell it."

"Can this... be sold?" Li Xiandong and Wang were not confident.

"Of course. Some people buy your weaved straw sandals. Why don't they buy these? They are so convenient and practical. Don't city people need to peel cotton seeds? Do they all make this cotton comb?"

According to Li Xiaohan's observation, not everyone in this city is rich. There are also middle-class families who buy seed cotton with cotton seeds and peel it slowly at home.

"That's right." Li Xiandong agreed. At most, it would be a waste of a few days' effort. As long as the capital is not paid, the farmers' efforts are worthless.

On October 25th, Master Han and his apprentice came to Li Xiandong's house for the last time to collect well water, build well walls, and lay floor tiles as promised.

Because they planned to sell the cotton comb for money, when Master Han and others came to dig for water in the well again, Wang and Li Xiaohan moved the tools into the east wing.

In this autumn and winter, it is common for women to peel cotton seeds and weave cotton cloth to get tax deductions. Master Han and the others are not surprised at all.

The two apprentices took turns loading the muddy well water from the bottom of the well into buckets, and then hoisted it up with a derrick. Over and over again, until the sewage at the bottom of the well is emptied.

At the same time, Master Han was already cooking glutinous rice in a pot with Sanhetu by the well. After the glutinous rice mixed with Sanhe soil was cooked, Master Han replaced the apprentice who dug the mud at the bottom of the well and began to build the walls of the well with green bricks.

One day, Master Han and his apprentice took turns to build a well wall.

The next day, Master Han and three people built the well platform and manhole railing. Due to the requirements mentioned before, Master Han also built a sewer for Li Xiandong's house and paved it with bluestone bricks around it.

From now on, Li Xiandong's family can be like the people in the city, no longer afraid of the mud around the well platform.

"My boss, please don't use the well for the next three days. Wait until the Sanhe soil solidifies before using it. After three days, if you find anything you don't like about the well, come to your second uncle's house to see us. Then I will give you some advice. You mend it. We will all be working on it at your second uncle's house before the snow starts, and we have to finish building his well before the snow starts."

"Sure." Li Xiandong said happily, took a look at the clear water in the well, and paid the wages generously.

On October 29th, it snowed lightly.

The sky was very high, and the north wind blowing in my face early in the morning was already carrying a biting chill.

Li Xiandong squinted at the sky for a while, and after a while he said, "It's going to snow today."

Li Xiaohan didn't know how ancient farmers judged the weather and farming season. She hadn't learned this skill yet. She squinted her eyes for a while and felt her face was a little dry.

In the past, the first thing Li Xiandong did when he got up early in the morning was to fill his water tank with water, but today it was more convenient, and their well could be used today.

Li Xiaohan and Mr. Wang stood by the well, bent down and lowered their heads, watching Li Xiandong's skillful hands grasp the hemp rope and lower the bucket until the bucket fell to the water. With a slight shake of his wrist, the mouth of the bucket fell open. It was filled with water at a downward tilt, and then Li Xiandong lifted the bucket up briskly.

"Sweet." Li Xiandong took the porcelain bowl handed over by Wang, filled it with water, took a sip, and smiled.

"Hey, this is great. Master, bring up the water and use your own water to cook breakfast today."

Because of this well, the Li family's breakfast was full of lightness and joy.

We were going out later. There was no porridge in the breakfast. It was a thick egg and vegetable soup with mixed flour pancakes. The mixed flour pancakes were filled with fragrant and succulent bacon cubes that had been fried in advance.

A hearty mouthful of mixed-noodle pancakes and a mouthful of hot soup will bring you unlimited strength on this cold early winter morning.

After breakfast, I drank a bowl of almond ginger milk. The last gap in my stomach was filled, and my whole body was satisfied from body to soul.

A satisfying breakfast is the start of a good day.

After breakfast, Li Xiandong and Wang each picked up a backpack, each containing a hundred new cotton combs made by the Li family, and set off into the city.

When he arrived in the city, Li Xiaohan stood at the fork inside the city gate and asked, "Dad, where did you sell straw sandals before?"

"It's over in the West City, but we came here at last minute. It's already late, so we probably won't have a good location."

There are fixed stalls and mobile stalls in the West Market. The fixed stalls are in a good location and no one can take them away. However, they have to pay every day, but Li Xiandong didn't know how much.

As for the mobile stalls, farmers from the surrounding areas come to sell their own vegetables, straw sandals, bamboo weaving, etc. The location is much remote, and it is first come, first served. The mobile stalls would contribute a little every day. The vegetable seller would contribute a handful of vegetables, and the bamboo knitting seller would contribute a handful of bamboo knitting. In the past, when Li Xiandong sold straw sandals, he would contribute a pair of straw sandals.

In fact, it was not too late for Li Xiandong and the others to go out, but since they were close to Fucheng, they must have arrived earlier than them.

Sure enough, when we arrived at the West Market, only the corner seat was left unclaimed. Li Xiandong spread out a one-meter-square straw mat, placed the cotton comb neatly on the front door, and then squatted down in the back obediently, waiting for someone to ask.

"Dad, that's it?"

"Hey, is everyone like this?"

Li Xiaohan looked around. The old farmers selling vegetables, bamboo weaving, and straw sandals were really squatting in the back.

The daughter-in-law carrying a basket and the old servant who was doing the shopping were slowly wandering over. If they saw anyone who was interested, they would stop and ask. If they were suitable, they would make a deal. If they were not, the old farmer would watch them leave with pity. .

"Dad, look at me."

Li Xiaohan took out his small backpack, which contained half of unprocessed seed cotton. It was prepared for demonstration, but no one has asked yet.

"Your seed cotton is good, but it's too little. How much does it cost?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as they were put out and before Li Xiaohan could hawk them, the old servant with a serious frown came up to ask for the price. Why do you say this is an old servant? Because he is wearing the cheapest coarse cloth, but it is not a short coat for working, but a long coat. His expression shows a sense of arrogance that has experienced the world, but he has to step down. Mortal world.

"Old man, what we sell is not seed cotton, but cotton combs." Li Xiaohan replied with a smile.

"What cotton comb? I've never heard of it. What is it?" the old servant said and was about to leave.

"Uncle, don't worry. Mom, show me our cotton comb."

"Why."

Seeing that the guest was about to leave, Mrs. Wang didn't care about being timid anymore. She quickly took out a handful of cotton and combed it lightly.

As Wang's hands rubbed each other left and right, the cotton ball between the two cotton combs was lightly scraped by the comb teeth to make it fluffy and clean. Finally, Wang gently scraped the cotton ball stuck between the comb teeth. Flick out the cotton seeds.

This ball of cotton is processed quickly, cleanly and beautifully.

"Come and see, come and see, this cotton comb is easy to use. You don't have to worry about peeling cotton seeds. It's fast, good and convenient."

"Come and see, come and see..."

There were already a lot of people in the morning market, but Li Xiaohan's crisp shout immediately attracted the attention of the people around him.

Looking again, Wang's quick and light movements soon combed out a small handful of cotton.

Yo, this is so practical.

Those who can visit the Western Market this early in the morning are not those who are particularly wealthy, but they are not considered poor either. In the early winter, dozens of kilograms of seed cotton are sold. Taking advantage of the winter cat winter, they peel the cotton seeds and prepare them for the New Year. Make one or two new cotton coats.

Or, for those who are thrifty and thrifty, it is also a small gain to take up the job of peeling cotton seeds in a clothing store.

As more and more people gathered around, the old man could no longer hold himself back, "Hey, little girl, you don't know how to do business on a first-come, first-served basis. You should greet me first. You have so many cotton combs." How much money?"

The old servant saw that this cotton comb was indeed convenient and easy to use.

The husband and wife of the family are separated, and the money is no longer in their hands. This year's winter clothes, my wife did not buy ready-made ones in the ready-made clothing store. Instead, she bought seed cotton and said she was going to teach the lady at home how to make winter clothes one by one.

The poor lady, who has been going to the tailor shop all year round to order clothes since she was a child, is now crying and complaining that her fingertips hurt when she peels cotton seeds.

In fact, it is not difficult for the wife to do it, but the husband is the youngest son, and his share of the family property is small. For the long-term plan, he can only open up tributaries.

If you had this cotton comb, you could comb out the cotton gently and deftly, and the lady would not complain about peeling off cotton seeds every day.

The old servant wanted to buy two, but he didn't show any signs of it.

"Old man, our cotton comb costs five cents a piece. If you want to buy two, I'll give you nine cents."

"Why is it so expensive? It's just half an insole with a bamboo stick inserted into it. What's the problem?"

"Old man, you are wrong. This is not an ordinary bamboo stick. This is a specialty of our Pingshan Village, a dianthus stick. This bamboo heel is tough and hard. It needs to be polished to be so smooth and detailed. It's useless. The boss is so energetic. Look, this bamboo stick is sharp at the top and blunt at the bottom. It is guaranteed not to leak out from the inside of the mat. Don't underestimate this craftsmanship. It's not an old farmer who has been dealing with bamboo for many years. This skillful hand cuts it. I am not telling you that you city dwellers like you, who have never experienced the skill of cutting bamboo with a knife or cutting meat with a knife, cannot make such beautiful sticks."

"Also, if you look at the insoles, you can see that they are perforated one by one, which is very troublesome. There are also particularities to perforating these holes. You need to be extremely strong to pierce them in. You cannot stop piercing them halfway, otherwise If the hole is crooked, the bamboo sticks will be unstable and uneven. The ladies in this city have a good life and have never done any heavy work. Unlike us farmers, who often do farm work, have great strength and ability. Such nice and neat holes."

Li Xiaohan's words sounded very reasonable and convinced the old servant. The husband in the family is a scholar, so old servants like them can sharpen bamboo sticks, but they really don't have the skill of a farmer. My wife, I have to stop for several times to tie the soles of my shoes.

"Then yours is too expensive. Two brushes are almost worth a pound of meat. Eight coins for two handfuls."

Since ancient times, only those who believe in goods are the ones who buy goods. Li Xiaohan said patiently, "Old man, this bamboo stick of yours is not for one year. You can still use it next year. In the past two or three years, you The money is spread out, and it only lasts a few cents a year, which saves a lot of effort. For two handfuls of nine cents, I will give you four bamboo sticks. If the bamboo sticks are broken, you can replace them."

"Eight articles. Four, four, four more doesn't sound good, four bamboo sticks. You are such a stingy little girl. Give me six, six or six will be smooth."

"It's really just nine cents. Old man, believe me, this bamboo stick is really difficult to trim. You see it is delicate and smooth. My father has put a lot of effort into it. Dad, let me see your hands."

Li Xiaohan didn't lie. He had been doing cotton combing for several days, and Qi Qi started to get a little rusty, so scratches were unavoidable. Li Xiandong's hands were all covered with small wounds.

The old servant glanced at Li Xiandong's palm-sized hands. The skin was thick and dark, covered with calluses. Even so, the small wounds on them were still very conspicuous.

However, the old servant will not be soft-hearted. One penny can buy a handful of fresh vegetables. "Eight cents is eight cents. Little girl, do you understand? Eight cents is more lucky. Eight cents, give me two handfuls Cotton comb,."

"Okay, old man, you are the first one to open the door, so we have a deal. Dad, help me string up the cotton comb."

Li Xiandong smiled happily, took two straws, and strung the two brushes together.

"Remember to give me six bamboo sticks." The uncle did not forget to tell him.

"Uncle, there is no one as shrewd as you. Dad, wrap six strings for me."

The old servant took the cotton comb and saw that the six bamboo sticks were all the same size, smooth and neat. Without fooling him, Fang took out eight pieces of brand-new copper coins.

Li Xiaohan took the eight copper coins, looked at it in the sunlight, and put it briskly into the money bag at his waist.

"Hey, little girl, bring me two cotton combs. I've been looking at them just now. They cost eight cents a pair. I also want six bamboo sticks."

"Auntie, you are really smart. Come on, daddy will give you a pair of cotton combs and six bamboo sticks."

…

This popularity is like this, and it is getting more and more popular from the beginning. From a distance, I can see a bunch of people surrounding a corner of the West Market. They are all saying "Give me two, give me two," and there are curious questions. road:

"What are you buying in front of me?"

"I heard that I bought that cotton comb. It's useful for combing cotton."

"What, cotton can be combed, how did you know?"

"I saw that the woman was combing her hair all the time. It is indeed fast and good."

"You bought it, how much did it cost?"

"It's a little pricey for two pennies, but we city dwellers really can't do that kind of meticulous work. If you think about it, it will last for two years, so it's worth it."

"Then I'll go take a look too."

"Go quickly."

The person who spoke came to Li Xiandong's stall and was surrounded by people on three floors inside and three outside. Some people were looking at the fresh food, some were buying cotton combs, and some were thinking secretly. After more than an hour, the crowd gradually gradually After they dispersed, Li Xiandong's cotton brushes were almost bought.

"Get out of the way, get out of the way." Someone in the crowd shouted, "Brother Ma Wu is here."

The sparse crowd moved out of the way, and a second-rate young man walked over.

Someone not far away whispered quietly, "This peasant man is going to bleed heavily."

"Doesn't it mean that our Western Market is the territory of the Qing Gang, and the mobile stalls only deliver goods? How can we cause a lot of bleeding?"

"Those are ordinary people, those old farmers. They pick up a basket of vegetables and sell them in the city. After paying the city gate tax, the remaining money is less than ten cents. If they collect more money, the old farmers will be scared away. Take some vegetables as payment. As soon as they arrived, the old farmers followed, and the small group of Qing Gang people also had food to eat. This old farmer selling cotton combs was different. It was his only business. I looked at it and made a little half a tael of silver today. , how can you fool me with a cotton comb or two. Besides, that Ma Wu is famous."

The speaker raised his eyebrows suggestively, and the person who responded understood that this Ma Wu especially liked money.

Everyone here said Ma Wu, and Ma Wu had already walked up to Li Xiandong and raised his head.

Good guy, why is it this person again?

Half a month ago, Ma Wu had already set his sights on Li Xiandong, who came to Renhetang to sell Eucommia ulmoides. The plan was all arranged, but he was called back by his elder brother and analyzed for a long time.

Ma Wu didn't understand it very well. He just remembered that this farmer was not an ordinary farmer and should not be messed with easily. For this reason, Ma Wu had let Li Xiandong go just to be on the safe side, but unexpectedly, he met him again in his own territory in the West City.

Why, there is this old farmer everywhere who gets rich. Do you think it is easy for them to collect this protection fee? It was obtained through bloody battles with other gangs. For the sake of long-term development, we generally don't dare to collect too much on weekdays.

Now, I finally thought I had a bit of windfall, but in the end, my joy was all in vain.

Ma Wu's face looked particularly unhappy, and he said displeasedly, "Do you understand our rules?"

"Yeah, yeah, I understand, I understand." Li Xiandong quickly handed over two cotton combs.

"Hmm~~" Ma Wu's eyebrows almost flew up, and Li Xiandong quickly handed over two more handfuls.

Four cotton combs, according to the rules of the past, were enough.

Ma Wu took a deep breath, signaled to the follower next to him, Sniffy Baby, to pick him up, turned around and left.

Before leaving, he did not forget to maintain his imagination, "When doing things in this place, you must abide by the rules. If you abide by the rules, we will not put you in danger. Understand."

After saying that, I picked up two cabbage plants from the last old farmer's stall and walked away in a big way.

"Yes, yes, yes, fifth brother, we all understand." The naughty little vendor fawned.

Li Xiaohan watched Ma Wu leave, feeling quite puzzled. When Ma Wu left, his expression was not generous, it was really heartbreaking.

Unexpectedly, although this ancient protection fee collector was greedy for money, he could still restrain himself.

Ma Wu, who walked far away, was really heartbroken after being short-charged a large sum of money. If he knew what Li Xiaohan said about him, he would want to say loudly: I am not, I am not. I just listen to my elder brother.

It's a pity that Ma Wu didn't know. At this moment, he was holding the cotton brush, looking left and right, and kept muttering, "Have you really seen that these two brushes are selling for eight cents?"

"Fifth Brother, I can see it really. The woman is combing the wool very quickly and cleanly. The little girl said that there is a special secret here." Sniffle Baby said.

Then, he repeated what Li Xiaohan said about bamboo sticks and piercing holes.

The more Ma Wu listened, the brighter his eyes became. Isn't this a way to get rich?

This job of peeling cotton seeds is not limited to dozens of people in the West City. In this city, there are many people who need to peel cotton seeds in winter. No matter how difficult it is to make bamboo sticks and punch holes, no matter how difficult it is, it can't stop his brother Ma Wu from making money from this exclusive business.

"Let's go home."

Here, Li Xiaohan and others didn't know that Ma Wu had already started preparing to imitate their cotton comb business and occupy the market before they could react.

However, besides Brother Ma Wu, there are more people.

"Here... a cotton comb."

The person who spoke was the bamboo craftsman diagonally opposite. He took out five cents with a hand similar to Li Xiandong's.

Ordinary people need to buy two handfuls to card cotton. If they just want to imitate and ponder, buying one handful is enough.

Li Xiaohan glanced at him, and the bamboo craftsman lowered his head with a guilty conscience. Li Xiaohan sighed in his heart, "Dad, bring me a cotton comb. Collect five cents."

"Hey," Li Xiandong responded, holding a cotton comb.

Two similar old farmers completed the transaction by paying the money with one hand and delivering the goods with the other hand. However, after all, Li Xiandong looks younger and more energetic.

After the bamboo maker bought a cotton comb, he immediately packed up and left without even selling the goods.

Mrs. Wang's heart ached when she saw this, "How can I sell it to that bamboo craftsman? I can't hide this unique job of combing cotton."

When Ma Wu came, there were not many cotton combs left. Later, I saw that the bamboo craftsman bought a handful, and the Li family also agreed to sell it. The vegetable sellers, small wooden furniture sellers, and food sellers in the surrounding area came over in twos and threes to buy a handful, and within a moment, the last ones were emptied.

While packing his things, Li Xiaohan quietly persuaded his mother, "Mom, don't be angry. It's pretty good if you buy one and go back and think about it. At least you will get a profit, and what I secretly remembered in my heart is that I won't be able to get one." Buy it, go back and test it out by yourself silently. This is not a delicate skill, look at my dad, he made it after just a few moments of thinking."

Li Xiaohan never underestimated the wisdom of people of this era. When she saw these exquisite and comfortable straw sandals, these bamboo products with woven flowers, and these hollow-carved wooden furniture in the market, she understood that people of this era are really talented. skillful.

Just like Mr. Zhao, who had neither oil nor sugar, but in order to make a pancake delicious, he went to great lengths to bake a pancake with thousands of layers; just like Li Xiandong, who used to carefully select the bulrushes of the same size in order to weave straw sandals for sale. of.

Only when you have enough food and clothing can you know the honor and disgrace. If you live a miserable life, you will do whatever it takes just to have enough food and clothing. What cannot be learned secretly still does not exist in this era.

You said they are not embarrassed. They also have a bamboo basket maker who only sells a delicate and exquisite basket for two cents. Li Xiaohan thinks that his business is not very good. Just like that, the bamboo craftsman spent five cents to buy one.

All living beings are suffering. Before reaching a desperate situation, Li Xiaohan didn't want to care too much and couldn't care less.

"Mom, don't think too much. Look, we sold everything today. Isn't this much better than what we thought before coming here?"

That's true. When Wang thought that this was all an unexpected fortune, she became happy. She was not a particularly pushy person, but after a while, she was left with only regret, "I knew we should have done more. If we did one more pair, we would have eight more articles today."

"Mom, there are still rags in the house, but you have used them all. Just in time, we made money today, so we went to buy the fabric for winter cotton clothes, and also asked the ready-made clothing shop. There's no raghead to buy."

"Sure, I'll listen to you." Mrs. Wang felt that her daughter was very appropriate and there was nothing wrong with her.

As for Li Xiandong, he had already rolled up the straw mat and put it in his backpack, and the small basket of cotton that Wang had combed was also carried on his back.

After listening to what Wang and Li Xiaohan said, Li Xiandong only said, "Let's go."

Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan came to the cloth shop last time, but what Li Xiaohan didn't expect was that the clerk actually remembered their father and daughter.

"Sir, you are here. What do you want this time? I didn't say that the fabrics in our store are the best. Look at the girl's body, she is so delicate. I was right at the time. This time There's a new color here, it's the lotus color that's just right for my young lady's age, would you like to take a look at it?"

The waiter greeted me warmly, but he was muttering in his heart: In less than two months, this family came again. Is this still an old farmer digging in the fields? City people don't install equipment as frequently as they do! Sure enough, I heard that all the country people around here have made a fortune.

However, it was okay before the clerk mentioned it. Before he mentioned it, Li Xiaohan felt that it was not worth it: the goose-yellow muslin she bought actually discolored when exposed to water.

Li Xiaohan almost thought that the cloth shop clerk had deceived them, but later he learned that in this era, it was still difficult to dye and fix the color, and well-dyed muslin was not only not cheap, but also could not be washed frequently.

She foolishly washed it after wearing it, but as she washed it, the color became lighter and lighter. Wang's dark red outfit was only worn twice when she entered the city. She couldn't bear to wear it at all other times. She still wore coarse cloth woven in the village on weekdays.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan felt that he would not be fooled this time no matter what lotus color the waiter said. She has to wear cotton-padded clothes in winter frequently. If you want to get that kind of light yellow light pink, you can't wash it. It's so ugly in the winter.

Li Xiaohan had his own plans in mind, but the waiter's introduction hit Li Xiandong's mind accurately.

"Then take it out and take a look."

When the cloth was taken out, Li Xiaohan realized that the lotus color turned out to be light pink.

Such a delicate color doesn't match my current body, which is not fully healed, and my slightly sallow complexion. There is no need to put it on, Li Xiaohan has already imagined himself wearing a pink cotton coat. Isn't this Huangliqiao?

"No, no, do you have the colors you usually wear?" Li Xiaohan quickly waved his hand and asked.

"There is also a peach tree. Can I take it out and show it to the lady?"

The waiter brought out a piece of cotton cloth that was green with a hint of purple and explained, "This color is more stable. Although the girl is younger, her temperament matches it."

Before Li Xiaohan could say anything, Wang's slightly rough hands had already gently touched the lotus-colored cloth and said lovingly, "The color is so beautiful, it matches our Xiaohan. Her face is white and beautiful." "

Wang's maternal love filter is already three feet thick.

The guy was still nodding in agreement, "No, the girl is young and at the right time for this."

"No, no." Li Xiaohan refused again and again.

She has experienced wearing colorful clothes in her past life, and she has no lack of color in clothes. The Li family is not yet free to dress freely, so there is no need to insist on using such noble colors.

"The color is so good. At your age, you have never worn anything red. I told you last time when your father came to buy cloth from you. Look, the granddaughter of the second uncle's family is a little younger than you. I also have a red coat." Wang, who has always had no opinion, is surprisingly persistent here.

Okay, every mother wants to dress up her daughter. Li Xiaohan backed away, "Otherwise, just cut a foot of red and make a circle around the collar."

A circle of pink is also good, which is both convenient and festive.

"Okay." Ms. Wang was a little regretful, but she was not a tough person, so Li Xiaohan's cotton-padded coat was mainly made of rosewood green and a foot of lotus red cotton.

Li Xiaohan's fabrics were decided, and it was easier for Wang and Li Xiandong to make fabrics. They both unanimously asked for the most common blue-brown color.

"Give my mother something bright to embellish." Li Xiaohan got inspiration from the scarf he just wore. He couldn't afford to wear a red dress, but he could still afford a red collar.

"Hey, miss, wait a minute." The waiter held up another vermilion horse and a dark purple horse.

Wang's love for red is clearly revealed here. Her eyes can't help but scan the vermilion cotton, and her usually dull face shines.

"Mom, just give me a foot of the scarlet one, let's decorate it with a border?"

"How old I am, it's only a newly married bride who wears such formal red."

Li Xiaohan didn't think that red was very positive, and the older aunts in the previous life liked the red more.

"Actually, women in this city are used to wearing red before New Year's Eve. Red is in season, otherwise I wouldn't be able to give it to you, madam." Dui Xiao explained.

"No, no, we are from the village." Wang waved her hands repeatedly, her face turned red.

"Then let's get a foot, let's go side by side and get some of this prosperity. Maybe it will become more prosperous next year." Li Xiaohan said.

The idea of prosperity touched Wang's mind. For a woman with Wang's experience, the days after the separation were like a dream: a new house was built, and there were jobs to earn money. The family is very happy.

The only fly in the ointment was that she wanted a son to carry on the family line for Li Xiandong, but she kept taking medicine, but there was no good news.

Maybe it will happen once it becomes prosperous. With this secret thought, Wang acquiesced.

"As for my dad? Is there anything suitable for my dad?"

"I don't have to." Li Xiandong flatly refused. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to have a red, yellow and blue border on his cotton-padded clothes. Why do men's clothes need so many patterns? Just wear them warmly.

"That's okay. Dad, my daughter will respect you from now on." Li Xiaohan didn't brag. She had already figured out how to compensate her father.

The clerk smiled and counted three pieces of cotton clothing, plus one foot of lotus-colored and one foot of vermilion fine cotton: "This ordinary cotton cloth costs twelve cents per foot, and the lotus-colored and vermilion-colored ones cost sixteen cents per foot. , all the fabrics add up to a total of three hundred and sixty-eight coins."

"Man, we bought so much, do you have anything to add to it? Can you give us some rags from the soles?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"Miss, our rags also have to be sold for money, but if you sell more, we can choose for you." After the clerk finished speaking, he brought out half a frame of rags with a smile.

"Are your rags tattery enough?" Li Xiaohan picked up a rag strip. The color and texture were okay, but it was too slender.

"Weighing it by the pound, it costs five cents per pound. It's not enough to make Baina clothes, but it's enough to paste the soles of shoes." The waiter said with a smile.

Okay, this price is considered affordable. Li Xiaohan looked through the basket and picked out the big and thick ones, basically picking most of them.

"This... miss, do you want so much shoe soles?"

"Yes, in winter it's not just cats that put shoe soles on the kang and peel cotton seeds."

The man thought about it, too. One weighed him, and most of his clothes were carried in a basket of cloth, weighing more than four kilograms. That's twenty cents. Including the cloth, the total is 388 yuan.

The three of them loaded up and went to the market to buy a few more kilograms of pork, which cost them dozens of coins.

When leaving the city gate, Mrs. Wang kept mumbling, "This money is really useless. We have almost spent all the money we made selling cotton combs."

Li Xiaohan carried an empty basket on his back and comforted Mrs. Wang, saying, "Mom, think about it, this money is just for the bamboo and shoe mats at home, but now we have three pieces of thick cotton cloth, and several It's a pound of pork. After spending so many days, our family is full and clothed. Isn't it a profit?"

As for Li Xiandong and Wang's efforts in forgetting food and sleep these days, Li Xiaohan knew that in the eyes of Li Xiandong and Wang, it was not considered a cost.

"That's true." Mrs. Wang nodded as expected. Bamboo costs nothing, and shoe soles made of rags are not worth much either. It's just money earned in vain. "I wish I could have made more." "

"It's okay. We bought a lot of rags, which is enough. Next time we buy money, we will save everything except food."

"Okay." Wang nodded.

Even Mrs. Wang who originally bought food was reluctant to part with it, but Dr. Zhang said that everyone in the family had to make up for it. Although Mrs. Wang didn't understand any big principles, but when this person was gone, everything was gone. Mrs. Wang was still knew.

With the idea of making money, the family rushed home anxiously.

It was already noon when she got home. Wang took out the newly bought pork belly. Li Xiaohan liked this bite.

"Fortunately, we returned early. It's a gray day, and it looks like it's going to snow." Wang said while washing the meat.

In the afternoon, as expected, heavy snow fell like goose feathers one after another.

It's winter.

Winter is approaching, and your home must be prepared for the winter.

With heavy snow falling, Li Xiandong's family had the advantage of having less land. After going out early for a tour and still having time to cut down a few dianthus, Li Xiandong came home to have breakfast.

"How are our wheat seedlings?" Wang asked anxiously when she saw Li Xiandong coming back while gluing the soles of her shoes.

"You can do it, you can survive it, don't worry." Li Xiandong replied to Wang while dragging the bamboo through the door, the cold air he breathed condensed into a white mist,

"That's okay." Ms. Wang breathed a sigh of relief. Since there was less land, the land was even more important. "I always feel that this year is colder than last year."

"It's been a lot colder. Fortunately, our wheat seedlings were sown in time, otherwise the tender seedlings would have been frostbitten."

"Who else can delay the sowing of wheat seedlings?" Wang didn't understand. Crops are the lifeblood of farmers.

"I heard that someone in the next village was lucky enough to be a few days late, but not in our village."

"It's okay if our village doesn't have it." Wang's heart revolved around her own family, and she only heard about it in the village. When she heard that it was from the next village, she was completely uninterested.

"Dad, Mom, it's getting cold, shall we have breakfast in the kitchen?" Li Xiaohan poked his head out of the kitchen and asked.

Li Xiaohan was not good at cutting bamboo sticks or pricking the soles of shoes with thimbles, so he took over three meals a day and let Wang and Li Xiandong seize the time to work and make money.

Today's breakfast is fragrant lean meat porridge, served with vegetable and multigrain pancakes.

In this era, pork is not fat, but people like to eat fatty meat, so lean meat is not very popular. Li Xiaohan cut the lean meat into small slices, marinated it with eggs and flour, and poured it in when the porridge was almost boiling. It didn't take long before the meat was cooked and he took it out immediately. A pot of thick porridge was fragrant, tender and smooth. .

Cut the pork belly into cubes, fry until fragrant, add pea shoots, stir-fry until the oil is sizzling and green, and serve with steamed multigrain noodles.

On this snowy winter morning, having such a hot breakfast is like a magical day.

Li Xiandong and Wang were simply terrified at first, wondering how they could eat so well every day.

But the days when Li Xiaohan used Dr. Zhang's banner to forcefully suppress him and then eat well and wear warm clothes were so fascinating. In addition, the effect of eating well was so obvious. The family of three was obviously no longer thin and lonely. It was obvious that The chicken has grown flesh and looks better. Even Dr. Zhang said that if we keep it like this, we can basically raise it back after the Chinese New Year. Nowadays, Wang and Li Xiandong have changed from frugality to luxury, and they have nothing to say about food.

"Dad, it's hard for people in the city to learn from us how to make this cotton comb. Will the people in the village let you teach them? Last time, many people came to you to teach me how to pick fruit."

Li Xiaohan asked as he ate the noodles. The Li family didn't have the habit of eating and sleeping silently. Instead, they liked to talk as a family while eating. Of course, be careful not to let the spittle fly everywhere.

Hearing Li Xiaohan's question, Wang's eating speed of porridge slowed down. Li Xiandong paused for a while and said: "People in the village probably don't know yet, right? We went to the city yesterday and sold the porridge very quickly. People in the village probably didn't." see."

"Then we will find out sooner or later. What will we do then?" Li Xiaohan continued to ask, he had to think of a plan in advance.

Li Xiandong was silent for a long time, "We sell money, and the villagers won't ask directly. If they want to imitate it, there is no way. This thing is unexpected, but it is not difficult, just take a look and you will be able to do it. I originally Making straw sandals is also imitated by others."

Li Xiandong's straw sandals are the best made by the Li family. Naturally, they were not taught by Li Shengli. They were made by him after watching people make them in the market and then slowly figuring them out on his own.

Only Li Xiandong of the Li family makes the best straw sandals and can sell them for money. Others Li Shengli, Li Xiannan, and Li Xianxi can only wear them at home.

"Then if someone else comes to ask you to teach me, dad, will you teach me?"

"I won't teach you." Li Xiandong's answer was not quick, but very stable.

"What if my grandfather comes to teach you?"

Li Xiandong was speechless for a long time. After a moment, he hesitated and said, "Xiaohan, is that your grandfather?"

"Dad, our family is separated. We and my grandfather are two families. Look at the second aunt and the third aunt. They know how to weave cotton. Have they taught me and my mother? We can make money by weaving cotton. If we can't weave cotton, we have to spend money." Money to buy."

"Then... we won't teach either." Li Xiandong replied with difficulty.

"Dad, you can give grandpa two cotton combs. It depends on the second uncle and the third uncle whether they can make it. You can't put food in your mouth." Li Xiaohan encouraged.

As long as you don't teach, you are learning secretly. Brothers, father and son, will be lower in principle.

"Sure, that's it." Li Xiandong was relieved. In his opinion, this thing would be easy to understand after just one look.

"Eat, let's make money after dinner." Li Xiaohan said proudly.

I don't know if it was luck favoring Li Xiaohan's family or something else, but in the next few days, no one came to Li Xiandong to ask about the cotton comb. The new house was originally located in a remote area, so Li Xiandong went to cut bamboo. Villagers from afar saw him, and they just thought that Li Xiandong was weaving bamboo baskets and dustpans, so they were not surprised.

In this way, the Li family silently made two baskets of cotton combs, preparing to sell them in Fucheng.

=== Chapter === 43

It had been snowing for three consecutive days, and the branches on the eaves were covered with white frost.

"Mom, what's wrong with your hands?" Li Xiaohan looked at Wang who was fetching water and washing vegetables and asked in surprise.

"Ah, what's wrong? Nothing wrong?" Wang was startled by Li Xiaohan, and then asked in confusion when she came to her senses.

"No, Mom, your hand is swollen." Li Xiaohan turned Wang's hand over and looked at it carefully several times, frowned and said: "Mom, you have chilblains, you don't have any Do you feel it? Doesn't it hurt? Doesn't it itch?"

"This kid scared me. What a fuss."

Ms. Wang withdrew her hand, a little unaccustomed to being greeted with concern over such a trivial matter, but she was extremely happy in her heart. She smiled and continued washing the vegetables, saying nonchalantly:

"Winter happens every year. We just have to endure it and it will pass. Our family is doing okay this year. The water in the well is warm. In previous years, when we went to wash pigweed in the river, the water was so cold that our hands turned red. That's what we call it. It hurts and itches. Have you forgotten?"

"I...I really forgot."

Li Xiaohan carefully thought about it. Her memories of her two lives were a bit like archives. Normally they were fine, but sometimes she had to search them in her brain before she could remember them.

It's true, including myself.

Think about it, how can you always have hot water available in the old house? Almost everyone in the old house has frostbite, including Chen, who has always seemed to be the secret boss of the Li family.

Only the boys Li Cairong, Li Caicai, and Li Caifu who were studying did not.

In Li Shengli's words, it is the hand of a scholar holding a pen. How can it freeze when touching cold water? How can it hold a pen and write, so hot water is specially provided.

Li Xiaohan sighed, "Dad, let me see your hands."

Li Xiandong, who was breaking bamboo, stretched out a pair of big hands like cattail fans and happily showed the backs of his palms to Li Xiaohan, "I'm much better this year than last year. This well is really worthwhile."

After leaving the Li family's old house, Wang didn't have to spend the cold winter months cutting and washing pigweed. Li Xiandong didn't have to pick up enough water for the family of more than a dozen people early in the morning, or chop firewood for the kang all winter long.

Working at home, we don't have to be exposed to cold wind and blisters all the time, so everyone's frostbite is much less severe.

Even Li Xiaohan, because Wang didn't let her touch cold water very much, and was responsible for cooking three meals a day, usually helped Li Xiandong and Wang, and combed cotton, so the frostbite has not relapsed so far.

However, Li Xiaohan had already remembered the frostbite attack in winter, when his hands and feet felt swollen, painful and itchy.

That is simply intolerable.

However, after two lifetimes of experience, Li Xiaohan really didn't know how to deal with frostbite.

In her previous life, her parents were both university teachers, one teaching biology and the other geography. Her parents were loving and their family was well off. She had never suffered materially.

Later, when she was in college, her parents went on a field trip together and died. However, her parents had insurance and the previous generation passed away, so she was the only beneficiary. After her parents passed away, the insurance paid a sufficient amount, leaving Li Xiaohan with enough financial protection.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan was not very rich in her previous life, but she did not have to worry about food and clothing. Her living environment determined that she would not encounter chilblains, and she paid little attention to it on weekdays.

But in this life, Li Xiandong and Wang think this is normal and they can just endure the winter.

Sighing inwardly, Li Xiaohan decided to ask the doctor next time he went to the city.

"Dad, when will the snow stop? When will we go into the city again?"

Li Xiandong looked at the sky on the porch, "It's coming soon, it's light snow after all, it won't last long."

Li Xiandong was indeed right. Two days later, the falling snow stopped.

Li Xiaohan wrapped up his old cotton-padded jacket tightly. He had no choice but to seize the time to make cotton combs to make money. He didn't have time to make a new cotton-padded jacket yet. He picked up his small basket with seed cotton on his back and followed Li Xiandong and Wang. Walking towards the city with this shallow layer of snow.

Fortunately, it's snowing for the first time. My old cotton-padded jacket can still hold up in this weather, but it won't work if it gets colder. I have to make a new cotton-padded jacket quickly.

Li Xiaohan was thinking in his heart. In fact, it is best to have money to buy an ox, set up an ox cart, and then drive the ox cart into the city.

If you want to get it done in one step, it's best to buy a house in the city, so you don't have to travel for an hour.

He still had to make money. Li Xiaohan took a breath of air-conditioning and felt a surge of pride and ambition in his heart.

Perhaps today was the first day after the light snow cleared. Li Xiaohan felt that he had left home early enough, but unexpectedly, he gradually met the villagers.

The first people they met were the two sons of their next-door neighbor Li Dashu, Li Dazhuang and Li Erzhuang. Soon after they left the village, they heard them calling from behind, "Xian Dongbo, Xian Dongbo."

Li Xiaohan turned around and saw two young people behind him carrying baskets on their backs and catching up quickly. Maybe they were walking a little faster, and there was a white mist in their breathing.

"Uncle Xian Dong, you are also going into the city. Let's go together. The weather is getting cold. In case the wild animals on the mountain come down, we will still have care." Li Erzhuang said with a cheerful smile, which clearly showed his temper. A bit bigger and more active than his brother.

Also, his mother died early and his father was lame. As the eldest son, Li Dazhuang naturally had a lot to think about and had to stay focused.

"Well, let's go together. Where is your father?" Li Xiandong responded.

"Dad has limited legs and feet, so this year my eldest brother and I are here together. Uncle Xian Dong, what are you carrying? Do you still have so many Eucommia ulmoides in your family? My brother and I carried two baskets of fruits, and my father said it was snowing. , the people in the city started to burn the kang, and the kang was very dry, so they like to eat some fruits. Our fruits will be easier to sell. "

Xu Shi had an active nature and was very close to Li Xiandong. The two men kept opening their mouths and said everything.

"It's not Eucommia ulmoides, it's some small things that are sold in the city. Your father is right, the fruits start to sell well at this time." Li Xiandong said.

Li Xiaohan asked him before if he would teach, and he thought about what he should say to the villagers for a long time. Later, after thinking about it, it seemed that nothing was right no matter what I said, so I simply stopped saying it.

"That's best. Uncle Xian Dong, let's set up a place later and have someone to take care of us. My father told us to follow the villagers, otherwise we will be easily bullied by people from other villages and steal the stalls."

"Sure. Let's live together."

Li Xiaohan glanced at Li Erzhuang, who kept talking, and then looked at Li Dazhuang, who had a slight smile but didn't say a few words except for the initial greeting. He couldn't tell that the temperaments of the two brothers were so different.

Perhaps this look was caught by Li Erzhuang, and he immediately asked, "Sister Xiaohan, what do you want me to do?"

Li Xiaohan smiled and said, "I saw you were talking while you were walking. You breathed in the cold wind. Is it cold?"

Although there was no snow today, the northwest wind was blowing loudly. Li Xiandong and the other three were immersed in their journey and lowered their heads when they spoke, just not wanting to inhale the cold wind when they opened their mouths.

But this Li Erzhuang walked happily into the wind without bowing his head when he spoke. This was amazing.

Li Erzhuang was stunned and glanced at his brother. As expected, his brother also lowered his head and walked on. When he looked over, he gave him a smile.

Don't remind him at all, he is his only brother after all!

Li Erzhuang felt resentful in his heart. Sure enough, ever since his father said that the two brothers went out alone today, he had become a little more excited.

However, the feeling of annoyance comes and goes quickly, and people who talk too much are often arrogant. Li Erzhuang scratched his head and laughed naively, "That's true. No wonder I feel cold in my heart."

Hahaha.

The group of people continued to walk slowly and hurriedly towards the city. They also met a few families along the way, but there was no fool like Li Erzhuang. After saying hello, everyone lowered their heads in silence and faced the cold wind and walked forward.

When they arrived in the city, the Pingshan Village group headed to the West Market in tacit agreement.

Several families found a place and each spread out their own straw mats. What they took out from their backpacks were nothing more than winter vegetables, fruits, cotton, and dustpans...

Only Li Xiandong didn't recognize anyone who took it out.

Li Xiaohan saw that other people around him were peeking at their home, but they were silent and did not speak. The outspoken Li Erzhuang wanted to speak, but was pulled back by Li Dazhuang's sleeve.

Li Xiaohan smiled, but soon they had no time to consider the villagers' reactions.

"Oh, it's you, buying cotton combs. I've been looking for you for several days, but no one has come because it's snowing, right?" A woman who was shopping nearby walked over quickly and shouted, "How much does it cost?" Up?"

"Auntie, a handful costs five cents, and a pair costs eight cents." The last time we came to the city, we sold them at this price, so it was hard to change the price this time.

"It's not cheap." The lady said, picking at the straw mat.

"Auntie, veterans like you know what's good. This comb of ours is really not expensive. It saves a lot of time." Li Xiaohan praised with a smile, but refused to lower the price.

"Okay. Give me two pairs."

The aunt obviously knew about cotton combs before. She heard that they couldn't be cheap, so she didn't worry too much. She picked two pairs that she liked and paid for them immediately.

"Hey, aunt, come and load it for you. I see that you are a good judge of goods. Sixteen cents, I will give you twelve bamboo sticks." Li Xiaohan responded cheerfully.

Everyone in the surrounding Pingshan Village had their eyes widened. The vegetable sellers, the straw sandals sellers, the fruit sellers, the bamboo weaving sellers all couldn't believe the numbers they heard.

In just such a short time, sixteen yuan was received?

"Okay." The aunt took the cotton comb and took out sixteen copper plates.

However, I didn't expect that this lady was more than happy. Not only did she buy it herself, but she also helped to attract customers. When she turned around, she shouted and waved to a woman three meters away who was looking at a dustpan, "Niu family, come on." Come, over here, the cotton comb I told you about is here."

"Hey, here's the cotton comb." The woman quickly put down the dustpan in her hand and walked over quickly, "I haven't seen this cotton comb before. Is it really as useful as you say from the Gao family?"

When Li Xiaohan heard this, he lowered his head and whispered to Wang, "Mom, comb it up and let them see."

Wang responded. She quickly opened Li Xiaohan's small backpack and took out the seed cotton. She used a cotton comb in each hand and brushed it a few times. The snow-white seed cotton was divided into fluffy pieces in Wang's hands. Then Wang took out the cotton seeds from between the teeth of the comb.

"Is the one from the Niu family so easy to use?" Aunt Gao looked at Wang's deft movements and asked proudly, "I'll tell you, what I introduced will never be wrong again."

"Oh, that's great, Gao family, you really didn't lie." The aunt from the Niu family praised, "Little girl, how much does this cotton comb cost?"

"A handful of five coins, a pair of eight coins."

"Hey, it's too expensive for you. I'll buy four pairs. Can it be cheaper?"

"Ms. Niu, I'm not going to lie to you. This cotton comb is already cheap. Ask the lady next to you. This thing is really useful. I think I'll have to buy it in a while." Li Xiaohan said It's a difficult situation.

"Niu family, why did you buy so much?" Aunt Gao asked curiously.

"I keep one pair for myself, one pair for my parents' family, one pair for my mother-in-law who doesn't live with us, and one pair for my married girl, but that's four pairs." Aunt Niu explained. .

"That's true, you have a lot of family." The lady smacked her lips, "It's heartbreaking to have thirty-two cents go out all of a sudden."

While the two were talking, a young daughter-in-law beside them suddenly intervened and said, "Little girl, give me four pairs. I promise, I'll give you thirty-two cents."

After the wife gave the money, she glanced at Mrs. Niu inadvertently, as if to say, just thirty yuan, and you are still so hesitant.

Li Xiaohan burst into laughter. This boost came at the right time. He quickly strung together four pairs of cotton combs, counted out twenty-four bamboo sticks, and handed one to his young wife.

The young daughter-in-law took it, raised her head slightly, and walked away with her head held high like a proud white goose.

"Ah! What does she mean? Does she look down on me?"

Mrs. Niu was so angry that she jumped up and down, "This Qian is not a good person. Even her daughter-in-law is not a good person. She shows off how much money she has all day long. It's amazing!"

Upon hearing it, it turns out that there is some connection.

"Little girl, give me four pairs." Aunt Niu was excited and immediately placed the order, but she still didn't hesitate to add more, "Can you give me a little more of your bamboo sticks?"

She figured that if she bought more, she would add more bamboo sticks, and she would see if she could get a smaller one. This bamboo stick is so small that it seems difficult to cut it.

"Mom, it can't be done. It's not easy to sharpen our bamboo sticks."

So Li Xiaohan once again learned about how tough this dianthus is, and how difficult it is to grind it to a uniform size and smoothness. It will never break easily, so a few spare bamboo skewers are enough.

"These bamboo sticks are not easy, so we brought extra. If I give you too many, there may be less left." Li Xiaohan was embarrassed.

"Okay." Aunt Niu was helpless, and she could see that Li Xiaohan's attitude was soft, but his idea remained unchanged. But this thing is really useful. This is the only business. The price cannot be lowered. "Here."

As a result, everyone in the surrounding Pingshan Village saw that Li Xiandong's family had already sold dozens of coins in just half a cup of tea.

This money is too easy to make.

Li Xiaohan said that this was really a fluke. Unexpectedly, two big customers suddenly came, and these two customers still felt a bit vindictive.

Sure enough, the next customers all bought one pair, or two pairs at most, but just like that, the customers came in an endless stream.

Customers were coming like clouds, and Li Xiaohan was so merciless in collecting money that he no longer felt cold on this cold day.

But what Li Xiaohan didn't know was that Aunt Niu and Aunt Gao regretted it halfway through, because another aunt was surprised and said: "Ah, you went to the West Market to buy it. There were villagers who came to buy it, and they bought it." Here's a pair of bamboo sticks for free. Just tie them yourself and get an extra handful, which means you save four cents. I heard that if you buy more, I can give you an extra handful as extra. ."

At that moment, Aunt Niu and Aunt Gao felt that they had lost hundreds of millions, and even the daughter-in-law of the Qian family who was passing by turned green.

"If you ask me, you just don't know how to manage a house. There is no exclusive business here. It's just a fake and it hasn't been released yet. You are too ill-informed, but you just spent a lot of money."

The aunt also said cool words, which hurt the hearts of Aunt Gao and Aunt Niu.

It's not like everyone in this alley loves each other, there's always some hint of something going on. Now that it is too expensive for me to buy, I will be laughed to death by this person named Chen in the future.

"Hey, you are greedy for petty gains."

At this time, the little daughter-in-law of the Qian family showed a sneer on her face and said with great disdain: "The family in the West City made this cotton comb first, and their craftsmanship is not the best. My natal family can use it." After that, the cotton is light and clean when you comb it out. There is also the bamboo stick, which is called dianthus. It is difficult to peel, but it is tough and hard to use. There is no such thing yet. Damn, it's not comparable to your cheap ordinary bamboo sticks."

"Some people buy that product just for the sake of bargain hunting. This bamboo stick must break quickly, otherwise I can give you so much. I am short-sighted. Hmph."

The young daughter-in-law of the Qian family cast a contemptuous glance at Aunt Chen, as if she would be tainted by these short-sighted people after just two more glances. She waved her handkerchief, snorted and walked away with her head held high.

"Hey, what does she mean by this? Does she look down on me? This Qian is not a good person, and the daughter-in-law she married is not a good person either. She relies on her own bad money all day long to do something great." Aunt Chen was so angry that her eyes were red, and she was jumping on her feet and cursing.

"You two, tell me, is this young man too annoying?" Aunt Chen anxiously sought the approval of Gao Niu, Aunt Niu.

"What's so annoying? I just told the truth." Aunt Niu raised her chin slightly and glanced at Aunt Chen from the corner of her eye, "Let's go."

That look seemed to say: You are the one who takes advantage of small things and uses inferior goods.

"gone."

Aunt Gao made exactly the same move, and the two left arrogantly as if they had won a battle, leaving Aunt Chen unable to react.

No, what happened to this world? There's nothing wrong with saving! Aunt Chen was furious.

Li Xiaohan didn't know about this competition between the ladies, because today was the first day after a continuous light snowfall, so there were a lot of people in the market. In less than an hour, their cotton combs were sold out.

What's strange is that Brother Ma Wu didn't come out to collect the protection money in person today. The boy who came over took the two pairs of cotton combs with a very strange look on his face. He didn't say anything after taking them and swayed with the same steps as Brother Ma Wu. gone.

Li Xiaohan's family of three packed up the stall and left first amid the surprised and envious eyes of everyone around them.

"Father, mother, let's go to Renhetang."

"Yes." Li Xiandong responded, picked up his backpack, and the three of them walked to Renhe Hall.

When we went to Renhetang, Dr. Zhang happened to be returning from a consultation with a medicine box on his back. When he saw them, he asked: "Why are you here? Haven't you finished the medicine you prescribed last time?"

Li Xiaohan said with a smile: "That's right, Doctor Zhang, my father and mother made a tool for combing cotton. It's not worth much, but it's still practical. I just came over and gave one to you and Shopkeeper Luo." right."

"Also, it's cold out here. My parents have frostbite, so they came here to see you."

"I wanted to give you a gift first, but let me tell you, this clinic manager Jinluo will not take half a penny less just because you give a gift." Although Dr. Zhang looked tired today, he was in a good mood. , he was still able to talk and joke, "Sit down first, I'll put down the things."

Shopkeeper Luo came out to welcome him and gave Dr. Zhang a vague look. He received a slight nod from Dr. Zhang, and the wrinkled word "Sichuan" between his eyebrows disappeared, and he joked, "Not necessarily, maybe I will A good mood."

"Then I wish Shopkeeper Luo great success." Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "Come on, Shopkeeper Luo, this pair is for you, use it like this."

Li Xiaohan also took out a handful of cotton to demonstrate on the spot.

"This looks pretty good. My guy should like it a lot."

"I borrowed it from Shopkeeper Luo and gave it to your wife."

"Hahaha."

While the two were talking and laughing, Doctor Zhang had already put down his things and walked out, "Here, let me take a look."

Wang and Li Xiandong stretched out their hands cautiously. In the past, just this frostbite would pass with patience, but Li Xiaohan insisted on coming to Renhetang to have a look. Li Xiandong and Wang could not resist Li Xiaohan's filial piety, so they came over.

Dr. Zhang saw Wang first, "The frostbite is not bad. It has just swollen and is not rotten. It is best to treat it at this time. When it gets colder, it will be more difficult to rot. "

"However, your chilblains are nothing to worry about. It's just your hands." Dr. Zhang gently knocked on Wang's knuckles and wrist joints. "Do you need to be exposed to cold water all the time in summer? Are there any redness, swelling, heat, or bones?" pain?"

"I... I kept washing pigweed, and I also had swelling and pain." Wang said uneasily.

"It's a bit similar, but I'm not sure." Doctor Zhang turned Wang's wrist left and right, and then felt the pulse. "The Cunkou pulse is heavy and weak. If it's heavy, it controls the bones. If it's weak, it controls the tendons. If it's heavy, it controls the kidneys. If it's weak, it controls the kidneys. That is the liver. Sweat goes out into water , like water when the heart is broken. Yellow sweat comes out every day, so the disease records every day."

Dr. Zhang muttered for a while, with a solemn expression, he took his pulse carefully and said, "I see, then I won't give you any medicine."

While Li Xiaohan and others were wondering, Doctor Zhang had already raised his head and explained, "Madam, this is a bit like the early stage of Lijie disease, but I am not sure because she has just become pregnant and her pulse conditions are slightly inconsistent. It is less than a month old. , so I won't take any medicine. Give me a dose of medicine and soak your hands at home. 20 peppers and 9 qian of Sichuan peppercorns. First boil the Sichuan peppercorns in water, add the peppers and cook until soft. Take it out, tear it open, and stick it on the affected area. , and then hot compress with water. During this period, try not to touch cold water, don't use too much force on your hands, and try to stay in a warm place. In about seven days, the frostbite on your hands should subside. Come back to me for a follow-up consultation then. Yao Wu Er "Qiwuer Bar Chair"

"Okay, doctor. Oh...oh? What?"

Li Xiandong, who had been standing nervously aside, seemed unable to react. His whole brain seemed to have stopped. He suddenly leaned his upper body half forward, clasped his hands tightly, and asked tremblingly, " Doctor...what did you say just...just now?"

"I said." Doctor Zhang paused deliberately, without looking up, and wrote the prescription in a flash, but he knew what Li Xiandong was asking, "You have a wife!"

"It will be a month."

"Remember to see me for follow-up consultation in seven days."

"Yes... yes." Li Xiandong's voice trembled, staring closely at Wang's belly. Wang had subconsciously covered her stomach with both hands, and turned to stare at Li Xiandong with tears in her eyes.

"The baby's father, the doctor said, I... got it, I didn't listen wrong."

"No. I heard it too." Li Xiandong spoke with trembling and nodded heavily.

Li Xiaohan looked at his father and mother and almost cried while hugging each other, feeling a little helpless in his heart, "Doctor, how is my mother's health?"

"You're in good health. Keep taking good care of yourself. If you're worried and your family's money is available to you, can I prescribe you two doses of tire-repairing medicine?"

"You can take advantage of it, you can take advantage of it." Li Xiandong said repeatedly.

Although the Li family doesn't have much money now, they can still squeeze out money for anti-fetal drugs.

Seeing that Li Xiandong was relieved, Doctor Zhang wrote down another prescription. After writing the prescription, Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang still didn't calm down.

"Little girl, please stretch out your hand and show it to me."

Seeing that the two adults were so excited that it was difficult to communicate, Doctor Zhang simply took Li Xiaohan's pulse and said, "Well, your body will be restored if you take some more care this winter."

Then he turned to Li Xiandong and Wang and said sternly: "You parents, don't relax. If your children don't take good care of themselves when they are young, they will suffer for their whole lives. You yourself have experienced it."

Li Xiaohan saw Doctor Zhang's upright expression, and suddenly he felt Doctor Zhang's intentions with sincerity: This is probably knocking Li Xiandong and Wang. With the one in the belly, don't forget the big one?

"Hey, yes, doctor." But Li Xiandong guessed that he couldn't receive it, so he grinned and nodded frequently.

"Okay, stretch out your hand and let me take a look."

"I...I don't have any problem." Li Xiandong said that there was no big problem, but he did not dare to resist the doctor.

"Yes. You don't have any major problems anymore. The tonic I prescribed to you before will be gone after you take it. The frostbite on your hands will naturally heal when the weather warms up. If you can't bear it, rub it with roasted ginger."

Sure enough, in Dr. Zhang's view, chilblains are very common and cannot be cured by ordinary farmers. Anyway, as long as the weather gets warmer, it will be fine.

After checking the pulses of the three people, Doctor Zhang wiped his hands and stood up. Li Xiaohan and the other two hurriedly went to pay for the medicine.

The money that Doctor Zhang asked about was true. Two doses of anti-fetal medicine were nearly one tael, and there was no money left to buy a cotton comb today.

However, Li Xiandong and Wang changed their usual temperament and were extremely generous with their money. Their eyes were full of love when they saw the clerk handling the medicine.

"Wait a minute." Li Xiaohan called to the waiter in a hurry, "What is this dose of medicine for?"

"Oh, this is for hand treatment."

"Is this pepper?" Li Xiaohan asked doubtfully. She still remembered the prescription prescribed by Dr. Li just now.

"Yes, this is pepper. Do you have it there? No way, it comes from overseas."

The guy who was administering the medicine today was Master Xiaoshi who couldn't recognize Eucommia ulmoides before.

"That's not true, but what is this pepper used for?"

"It drives away cold and dampness. It can also be taken as a decoction, but the taste is too strong and many patients cannot tolerate it."

Master Xiaoshi showed off his knowledge and wanted to regain the face that Eucommia had lost in the past.

Li Xiaohan smiled sweetly at Master Xiaoshi.

How come it doesn't taste strong?

This is chili pepper.

=== Chapter === 44

"Xiaohan, why did you buy so many peppers? This is medicine, you can't take more."

Because his daughter liked it, Li Xiandong happily paid for it at Renhetang and returned home to unload the goods before he realized how to ask this question.

"Dad, didn't you hear the guys at Renhetang say that these peppers can dispel cold and dampness? It's going to be wet and cold this winter. Let's eat some ourselves. If it works, I'll keep the seeds for next year. Let's grow some ourselves and sell it to Renhetang," Li Xiaohan explained.

"You're right." Li Xiandong agreed, "It's just that our land is not enough. But when spring comes, I will open a piece of land at the foot of our newly bought mountain and cultivate it for a few years. It's a small piece of dry land."

Li Xiandong was very familiar with the matter of land reclamation.

As a farmer, Li Xiandong was extremely passionate about the fields. The land allocated to him was too little, which made Li Xiandong full of insecurity.

Even though the family has saved money from selling Panax notoginseng and Eucommia ulmoides, and now has an income from cotton combs, it still cannot offset this feeling of uneasiness.

It is a pity that in the past twenty years or so, the world has been at peace, and the land without owners has long been cleared, and no one is willing to sell the land that is their foundation.

Even if that family is unable to survive due to natural disasters or man-made disasters and wants to sell their land, ordinary families like Li Xiandong will not be able to survive. They have already been robbed.

Therefore, Li Xiandong has already set his sights on the small gentle slope under Xinmai Mountain. The land is not too small, if you add it up little by little, that's not bad. Like now, you can grow peppers as soon as they are opened, and maybe they can be sold to Renhetang.

"It's okay. There's no rush to open up wasteland. Let's take our time. Our family's life will always get better and better." Li Xiaohan comforted him.

"That's true." Li Xiandong smiled and nodded. Life is getting better and better, isn't it?

Mrs. Wang gently held her belly that had not yet heaved and looked at the two father and daughter talking with a smile. She was extremely satisfied and had no other extravagant wishes.

Li Xiaohan looked at Wang's expression and felt a little dazed in his heart. He was happy for Wang who had been obsessed with him for so many years, but he couldn't help himself, and suddenly thought of the faces of his parents in his previous life.

Are you happy after all?

Li Xiaohan thought this was the case and told himself so.

"Dad, Mom, we bought big bones today. Let's make soup for dinner. Doctor Zhang said that everyone in our family must continue to make up for it."

"No. Let me do it. Just wash it and put it in the pot to cook." Li Xiandong responded immediately.

The doctor told her that the baby should not touch cold water and that she should take good care of her hands first. Since she is pregnant, she must listen to the doctor's advice.

My daughter's hands are tender, so it's best not to touch cold water. Although chilblains are not a big deal, they are still painful.

He is a grown man, so it doesn't matter, he just tolerates the little pain and gets over it.

In the past, when he was too busy making fried eucommia, Li Xiandong also cooked. Although it was not particularly delicious, it was still edible. Besides, making soup is the easiest. Just wash the bones and put them in, add ginger to remove the fishy smell, and then boil it over a fire.

Therefore, when a man enters the kitchen, as long as there is a first time, there will be a second time. After entering the kitchen a few times, he will get used to it.

"Okay, then I'll go to the backyard vegetable patch to pick out some vegetables." Li Xiaohan responded without any further refusal.

Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan were busy, while Mrs. Wang picked out the rags from the basket and prepared to paste the soles of her shoes.

"Mom, be careful. Don't bend down all the time. Don't get tired. If it's too heavy, let dad help you."

See, I can also remind my mother that pregnant women should not make big movements or lift heavy objects.

I would probably be a good sister. Li Xiaohan said to himself.

"I understand, and I still need you to tell me."

Ms. Wang smiled and said, no matter how much she said she had given birth to one child before, no matter how many years she finally got pregnant, she would naturally be careful. Just paste the soles, it doesn't take much effort.

"Hey." Li Xiaohan responded.

Li Xiandong's family was happy and happy here, but unexpectedly, his family was like a stone, hitting the calm lake, causing a commotion.

The fact that Li Xiandong sold two cotton combs for eight cents deeply shocked other people who were around at the time. Even though this cotton comb is so easy to use, I have subconsciously ignored whether I need one at home.

Moreover, this thing is still selling well. It was sold out in more than an hour. I packed up early and went home, leaving other people waiting in the cold wind at the stall where few people came to ask about the price for a long time, waiting indifferently. .

Some people even asked later, "Hey, hey, didn't they say that there are cotton combs for sale in this West Market? Where is it? Where is it?"

Brothers Li Dazhuang and Li Erzhuang on the side helped to answer, "Sold out. Come back to the next market."

The person who came to ask slapped his thigh and said, "Hey, I'm still late. This delayed me for a while, and it will take a few days to be used. It has delayed me a lot."

Others felt quite unhappy.

After staying until the afternoon, everyone, no matter how much goods they sold, picked up their burdens and went home. It is unknown what everyone is thinking, but the pace of going home is not slow.

Most of the people were pacing around at home, thinking about things. It was so embarrassing for someone from the same clan to have just inherited the love of Eucommia ulmoides.

But these days are also difficult. Everyone wants to give the baby an extra piece of meat, and everyone wants to put on an extra cotton-padded coat for my mother. My daughter-in-law's hands are not stopping day by day, and I am not enjoying any blessings.

Or, secretly make a pair for your own use?

There were also those who had too many thoughts on their minds. As soon as they left the house, they went to the patriarch's house.

"Are you saying that Li Xiandong sells a cotton comb, which is to tie bamboo sticks to the insoles and then use it to comb the cotton? It is very easy to use? In the past, it took a day to pick cotton seeds to process the cotton. That cotton comb is almost the same Was it done in an hour?" Patriarch Li frowned and asked doubtfully.

"Yes, patriarch, many of us can do it. The woman from Li Xiandong's family has been demonstrating at the stall. This small basket of cotton is combed cleanly. For eight cents and two handfuls, the city can People inside are rushing to get it, and there isn't enough to sell."

This started to sound a bit wrong.

"That's a craft for people to make money. Who doesn't have some unique skills? Why, you're jealous of eight cents. I have to teach you for free?"

The patriarch stood up, with a serious face and a stern tone of voice, "Does this Li Xiandong owe you? He taught me how to fry Eucommia ulmoides. I didn't even have enough money to warm it up, so I just forgot about it. And that fruit picking device, no?" I've taught you too. Why, kindness is greater than hatred, and I can't feed you enough."

"This kind of culture cannot be tolerated in our clan!"

The visitor was startled, took a few steps back, and stammered in explanation, "Patriarch...Patriarch, I don't have it, I really don't have it. I...I, I just think about my mother-in-law and children at home." I am busy picking cotton seeds all day long, so I just want to make two for my own home. I don't dare anymore, patriarch. In previous years, I have been picking cotton seeds by hand, so I can do it this year. Patriarch, patriarch, I'm leaving."

After saying that, the person turned around and ran away.

However, although the visitor ran away, the patriarch's face was not so relaxed.

Although he also said that this is Li Xiandong's exclusive wealth-making technique, if it is really as easy to use as Li Fugui said, how much effort can all the families in the clan save on picking cotton seeds this year.

Don't judge whether people can tolerate such good things. There will always be people who learn them secretly or openly, and then develop into stealing business. People with a bad heart may avoid Li Xiandong from now on. People with a crooked heart may You might even be able to knock him down.

As a clan leader, he cannot allow a person who has contributed to the clan to be treated like this, nor can he watch the clan's atmosphere gradually become distorted.

"What do you think?"

The patriarch asked when his son Li Xinhe appeared behind him.

"Dad, you have to make a decision early, the sooner the better."

Li Xinhe didn't show any embarrassment, he just said slowly.

"If the clan comes forward, we must give Li Xiandong enough compensation." Chief Li sighed.

"Didn't I say a few days ago that Mr. Zhang's son sold a lot of land? Dad, you should also get a share."

"...You are quite generous." The clan leader said with a hint of reluctance.

Zhu Xiucai from the neighboring village took advantage of his acquaintances in the city to seize the largest piece of fertile land. The head of the village also bought dozens of acres of dry land from it, and then used the remaining dry land to give these villages a share. It was because of his sharp eyesight and quick hands that he managed to grab ten acres of dry land, but he hadn't yet figured out how to divide it.

There is no capable person in the clan, otherwise we would only be able to grab these ten acres of dry land. The patriarch glanced at his son.

"Dad, Uncle Xiandong's family, I think they are not short of money. The only shortcomings are land and son. Which one do you choose between the two?" Li Xinhe seemed unaware.

"Screw you, I can still give him a son."

"It's not impossible. If we really need to adopt him at that time, you can help us choose a good one."

"How can it be so easy to choose a son? You young people still don't understand. If you raise a son well, he will come to repay your kindness. If you raise a son badly, he will come to take revenge. Unless it is the last resort, you will still Give birth to yourself."

"Let's go." The clan leader rubbed his hands and said.

Li Xinhe's expression remained unchanged as he followed his biological father.

The two clan leaders expected that the sooner the better, but unexpectedly, someone came earlier than them.

Not long after Li Xiaohan's family finished eating, Wang felt a little sleepy after finding out she was pregnant, probably due to psychological effects. She was also tired from traveling back and forth to the city.

If it were the past, she would have been able to get through it, but now it was a good time to make money with cotton combs. But today, she thought about it and went back to the kang to rest.

While Wang was resting, Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan were making cotton combs under the eaves. Doctor Zhang told Wang not to overwork her hands, so Li Xiaohan tried to take over Wang's job first.

It's just that she overestimated herself a little. Although she had been doing farm work, she was still young, and in the past, when Wang was around, she had to do the rough work. Li Xiaohan's hands were really not strong enough, and he couldn't do it all at once. Pierce the insole with a thimble.

After all, it's not easy, it's okay, just work hard and it will be done.

"You're not strong enough, keep it, I'll prick it for you, and you can glue the soles of your shoes." Li Xiandong easily broke open a section of dianthus on the side. Seeing that Li Xiaohan couldn't prick it in despite all his efforts, he said with a simple smile. .

"Okay. Dad, can you still tie the soles of your shoes?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"I'll be able to do it just by looking at it. This thing has great strength and sharp eyesight. It just needs to be pierced hard and arranged neatly. It's not difficult with a little effort."

"Dad, you are so awesome." Li Xiaohan praised.

Li Xiandong is really skillful with his hands. Whether it is a fruit picker or a cotton comb, Li Xiaohan will understand it at least seventy-eight points. After adjusting it again, it turned out better than Li Xiaohan imagined.

Li Xiandong smiled and said nothing, but he felt very happy in his heart.

In the past, when he did these big and small kungfu, his biological father always said that he was the eldest brother and he was older than his two younger brothers, so he should do well. Now think about it, Xiannan and Xianxi are now in their twenties and almost thirty, so they are still small there. But I can't see myself.

Now after the separation, Xiaohan is more lively and seems to be much clearer.

Li Xiandong took over the task of pricking the soles of shoes, and Li Xiaohan couldn't do the work of peeling bamboo sticks. After thinking for a while, Li Xiaohan took out the peppers bought from the medicine hall, and tore open the dried skin. Pick out the seeds one by one inside.

These are the seeds to be sown next year, so they must be well preserved.

When the time comes to plant more, you can start eating them. Butter hot pot, spicy hot pot, pickled fish, fat beef in sour soup... My parents took me to eat delicacies represented by Hunan cuisine and Sichuan cuisine.

How happy it was then.

Why do I keep thinking of my past life today? It's all in the past. The most important thing is to live a good life today.

Li Xiaohan shook his head and concentrated on picking pepper seeds. Li Xiandong was working hard on making a cotton comb. The father and daughter were working harmoniously on their own, when suddenly there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Li Xiandong stood up and went to open the door. It was broad daylight, and no one was busy at home, so why would anyone come to visit?

"Uncle Xian Dong, it's me." A muffled voice came back from outside the door.

Li Xiandong opened the door and saw Da Zhuang next door, "Da Zhuang, what's the matter?"

"Uncle Xian Dong..." Da Zhuang hesitated, then plucked up his courage and said, "I saw someone in the village going to the back mountain to chop dianthus. Please pay attention."

After Li Dazhuang finished speaking, he turned around and left. Li Xiandong looked at his running back and sighed, "This kid."

But he couldn't help but bring a smile to his face, closed the door and went home.

"Dad, who is it?"

"It's your brother Da Zhuang. He came to tell me that someone in the village went to the back mountain to chop dianthus. After saying that, he ran away."

"Brother Da Zhuang has an upright nature and an upright heart."

"Yes, Da Zhuang is a good boy."

Before the two of them finished speaking, they heard the door being knocked open again.

Li Xiandong stepped forward to open the door and asked doubtfully, "Dazhuang, did you miss something?"

Unexpectedly, outside the door were the clan leader and Li Xinhe, "Clan leader, Xinhe, why are you here when you have time? Come in quickly."

Li Xiandong was a little cautious and hurriedly welcomed the two of them in.

"Xiandong, I came here shamelessly today." The patriarch said, "Someone said that the cotton comb you made is fast and convenient for combing cotton. Can I have a look?"

The three of them were talking and striding away. Before they could say a few words, they were already under the eaves. Li Xiaohan smiled, stood up and shouted, "Clan leader, Brother Xinhe."

"Hey, hey." The two clan leaders responded, "Are you making cotton combs?"

"Yes, patriarch, let me show you."

Li Xiandong quickly lifted out a basket of cotton from the side room, picked up two cotton combs, placed a ball of cotton on the comb teeth, closed the two combs, and combed out the ball of cotton. Come, light and white.

"Clan leader, look, it's not a big skill..." Li Xiandong said.

"Clan leader, look, is it very convenient and practical? My father is very powerful."

Unexpectedly, Li Xiaohan interrupted Li Xiandong's self-effacement. He looked at the patriarch with a pair of big black and white eyes, smiling as if he was asking for approval, and as if he was saying that we have to sell such a great cotton comb. You can speak.

The patriarch felt a little ashamed when he saw such eyes, and he couldn't help but let go of his desire to try again, "Xiandong, landlord Zhang's son wants to sell land, and I have a quota of ten acres of land here. Up. Good dry land costs eight taels of silver per acre. It only costs silver. How many acres do you want?"

Li Xiandong was so excited that he couldn't speak. He said in disbelief, "Clan leader... Patriarch, I..."

"Clan leader, how many acres do you think my dad's cotton comb is worth?"

The patriarch looked at Li Xiaohan seriously and said, "I'll tell you, it's as many acres as you say."

"Then ten acres, we want them all." Li Xiaohan said, "Chief, don't think I'm talking too much, let me show you this." After that, Li Xiaohan took out a piece of paper from his arms.

The clan leader was puzzled. He took the paper and saw, "Luoji Cloth Shop rags purchase documents."

Even more puzzled, he continued reading, "It is hereby agreed that from November 15th to December 15th, Luoji Cloth Store will deliver ten kilograms of rags every Friday at the price of five cents per kilogram. To Li Xiandong of Pingshan Village. Both parties use this as evidence."

"You ordered so many rags?"

"Although these rags are not enough for the whole clan, this method should be able to allow you, clan leader, to appease certain people. When we get this land, we must always accept your kindness, clan leader, and not make it difficult for you. "

"The cotton comb is not difficult to look at, but it is not easy to make it. I guess it won't be long before many people make cotton combs by themselves. However, in such a big city and surrounding villages and towns, most of them will People buy it, after all, this thing is really useful. And besides Fucheng, clan leader, do you think anyone will take it and send it to other places? How can we make the cotton combs of the Li clan in Pingshan Village the best?"

Li Xiaohan followed suit and said, "I have some ideas. Patriarch, can you please listen to me?"

"First of all, they are both made of cotton combs, with a base made of "rags" and a base made of brand new "cloth strips". I believe you know which one is more popular, clan leader."

"With my father's ability and courage, he never dares to take too big a step, but I believe that the clan leader has more ideas than my father. Not to mention the embroidery workshops in the city, there are also cloth shops for civilians. As for the five families, it depends on whether the clan leader is quick enough."

"Secondly, the bamboo used to make cotton combs is very important. I heard from my father that the dianthus of our Li family was specially transplanted by our ancestors. They just like the tough and solid character of dianthus. My father can It is to publicize the dianthus of our Li family, and when the time comes, our Li family will have the upper hand."

"Finally, clan leader, such a big event is different from the Eucommia ulmoides last time. Our clan members naturally want to go as fast as possible. You see, my house is narrow and more people will not be able to stretch out. Otherwise, the clan members you will learn from Gather at the ancestral hall, where will my father teach?"

Li Xiaohan listed them one by one. The more Patriarch Li listened, the brighter his eyes became.

"Niece Xiaohan, you are so smart. It is an honor for my Li family to have such a child."

The patriarch laughed loudly. Compared with the benefits he could get from the cotton comb, the patriarch especially liked the talents he could get from taking the lead in signing documents with the cloth bank, publicizing the name of the Li family's dianthus, and calling the villagers to the ancestral hall. It's the patriarch's favorite.

"Xiandong, I will go to Fucheng to talk to Bu Xing first, and then I will gather the tribesmen to explain the situation. Don't worry, I will keep the land where Landlord Zhang lives for you. After two days, when things are finished, I will take you Go to the head of the village and sign the paperwork." After the clan leader finished explaining, he took his son and walked away quickly.

"Hey." Li Xiandong nodded repeatedly, and it was Li Xiaohan who followed him out first to see the two patriarchs off before closing the door.

Without any outsiders, Li Xiandong was so happy that he rubbed his hands violently and giggled "Hey, hey hey, hey hey hey...".

Li Xiaohan looked at his father's stupidity and estimated that he would not be able to calm down to make brushes for a while. After thinking about it, he suggested, "Dad, do you want to count the money to see if it is enough?" "

Li Xiaohan has a lot of money in his family, and the biggest money comes from Panax notoginseng and Eucommia ulmoides. Although he used some money to build a house and see a doctor, he estimated that it would be enough for one hundred taels, and he didn't calculate the amount beyond that.

When Li Xiandong heard this, he was about to walk towards the main room, but he stopped as soon as he lifted up, "Your mother is still sleeping, don't disturb her, don't be in a hurry."

Li Xiandong said he was not in a hurry, but he kept stamping his feet and spinning around.

Ten acres of land, exactly ten acres of dry land. He knew that Landlord Zhang's land was not defective and was more than enough to grow wheat.

For a while, Li Xiandong couldn't keep his mind off these ten acres of land. He also thought that before the separation, the Li family's old house had 24 acres of paddy fields and 35 acres of dry fields. When his father split up the family, there were only 15 acres of paddy fields and 20 acres of dry fields. Later, half of the 9 acres of paddy fields and 15 acres of dry fields were bought, and the other half were reclaimed land by two generations of hard work and diligence. from.

Li Xiandong is not afraid of hard work, but now, there is no land left to open up wasteland.

The longing and panic about the land often woke him up from dreams in the middle of the night. Less land means hunger and barrenness, the inability to afford any accidents, and the lack of confidence. Once an accident occurs, the whole family may be displaced.

Li Xiandong was too scared.

Now, he suddenly has ten acres of dry land, which means that he can plant more land and store more food. Even if the famine unexpectedly comes, he can try his best to survive. Acres of land will not break your muscles or bones.

The corners of Li Xiandong's eyes were slightly moist.

"I'm going to chop up the dianthus."

Li Xiandong picked up the machete, his desire to make money stronger than before. He could no longer open up wasteland, but he found another way to buy land: making money to buy land.

As long as you have money, enough money and influence, you can buy land.

The fire boiling in Li Xiandong's heart made his head hot and his limbs full of strength.

Li Xiaohan looked at his father and waved the machete vigorously. With a snap, a piece of hard dianthus split into two halves, and then with a snap, it split into two halves again... as if he was tireless.

It was difficult for Li Xiaohan to understand his father's dedication to the land, but she could see that at this moment, her father seemed to have stood firm.

…

Noon gradually passed and the sun set in the west. Wang woke up from a long sleep and felt that all the bones in her body were loosened and her whole body was filled with warmth.

She didn't even want to get up when she woke up, so she just lay on the kang, closed her eyes, and slowly savored this feeling that she had never had before.

No wonder my stepmother-in-law, Mrs. Chen, always found opportunities to say that she felt uncomfortable here and there, and wanted to squint on the kang. He also said that he was reluctant to spend money on medical treatment and would just take a nap.

It turns out that it feels so good to be able to sleep peacefully without having to work constantly.

Mrs. Wang thought about it for a moment, and the kang was also lit, and it was warm. In the past years, the kang was never lit so early. It was always when the heavy snow fell and the cold became unbearable.

Nowadays, it feels so good to be the master of my own house. I can burn it whenever I want. I can chop the firewood for my son and his father without having to worry about the whole family. Even the sister-in-law in the next room can do it. If you burn the kang first, then you can burn it yourself.

So good.

Mrs. Wang thought happily, but she heard her husband and daughter talking quietly outside the door.

"Mom has been sleeping for so long and she still doesn't get up. Does it matter? Do you want to wake her up?"

"No, let your mother sleep enough. She will wake up naturally after she sleeps enough."

Li Xiandong understood what this child meant to Wang.

Thirteen years have passed, and the pressure of being childless has not only weighed on Li Xiandong, but also on the Wang family.

It's not that he hasn't blamed Wang, he has.

But he always remembered that when he first married Mrs. Wang, she was seven years younger than him and still a young girl with a sparkle in her eyes.

He could see it clearly: Mrs. Wang pities herself and regrets that she has to make a living under her stepmother, and she is willing to live a good life with her. She warmed her own people, and even warmed his heart.

But she thought too simply. The increasingly heavy housework gradually bent her back. After giving birth to Li Xiaohan, she had nothing to do, and the light in her eyes gradually extinguished.

It was not that she was completely unable to give birth at the beginning, it was just that she was injured and had no money to take medicine.

Rather than blaming the Wang family, what Li Xiandong blames more is his own incompetence.

Now, being able to get pregnant again is a salvation for both of them.

When Mrs. Wang in the room heard Li Xiandong's words, her eyes lit up slightly, her mouth pursed slightly, and then she felt embarrassed: She is so old, and she is still staying in bed. It's really embarrassing to say that. very funny.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Wang hurriedly got up, put on her old cotton coat, and said, "I'm awake, come in."

"Mom, then I'm coming in." Li Xiaohan responded.

As the door creaked, two figures walked in.

Li Xiandong glanced at Ms. Wang. Ms. Wang thought Li Xiandong blamed herself for sleeping in, so she hurriedly lowered her head.

Fortunately, Li Xiandong didn't say anything. Instead, he squatted down and dug up the mud in one corner.

Mrs. Wang knew that that was where their family kept the largest sum of silver ingots.

Wang quickly glanced at the door and saw that Li Xiaohan had closed the door, then she asked nervously in a low voice: "What's wrong?"

Before Wang had time to think wildly, Li Xiandong had already replied: "The patriarch asked me to buy land with money. Eighty-two acres of dry land, buy ten acres. Let me see if the money is enough."

Oh my god, Wang almost felt dizzy and couldn't believe it: "Really?"

"Mom, of course it's true. Just take it easy and don't get excited. You're still pregnant in your belly. Take a deep breath, take a deep breath."

After Li Xiaohan saw Li Xiandong's stance of chopping up dianthus for a long time, he kept staring at Wang. Sure enough, his hunch was right.

Mrs. Wang held Li Xiaohan's hand tightly, and after a while, she suddenly knelt down on the kang and kowtowed three times in the direction of her ancestral grave. It was obvious who she was talking about.

Then he stood up suddenly, without Li Xiaohan's support at all, opened a box next to him, and then pulled out a bag in a rag.

The bag is big and jingles. This is the daily scrap money used by the Li family.

At this time, Li Xiandong also dug out the silver ingots from the ground. Together, the two of them piled all kinds of silver ingots, slings of money, and scattered copper coins on the kang, and then looked at Li Xiaohan expectantly. , said in unison: "Xiaohan, come here."

During this time, the Li family and his wife have come to the conclusion: Li Xiaohan is the best at counting in the Li family. He is fast and good. Neither Li Xiandong nor Wang can compare. Once the amount is larger, both Li Xiandong and Wang will easily make mistakes. .

Li Xiaohan smiled so brightly that his big eyes formed a crescent moon, "I'll count it for the first time, and mom and dad, you guys will count it again. This can't be more accurate."

"Why."

So the family of three sat in a row on the kang, with Li Xiaohan taking the lead, Li Xiandong and Wang behind. Their weathered faces no longer had any restraint, shrinkage, or sorrow, only pure happiness remained.

"First count the silver. This is a large silver ingot of 10 taels each. 10 taels, 20 taels, 30 taels, 40 taels, 50 taels, 60 taels, 70 taels."

Li Xiaohan counted while counting, and after each number fell, Li Xiaohan handed a large silver ingot with a snow-white icy luster to Li Xiandong and Wang.

Li Xiandong and Wang took it back carefully, caressed them lovingly and put them together gently, not forgetting to count: "10 taels, 20 taels, 30 taels, 40 taels, 50 taels, 60 taels." Two, 70 taels."

It's really intoxicating, full of joy that overflows from the depths of my heart.

"These are 5 taels of silver ingots." Li Xiaohan deliberately counted down the total amount just now, "75 taels, 80 taels, 85 taels... 100 taels."

"These are small silver ingots of 3 taels each. 103 taels, 106 taels, and 109 taels."

"This is broken silver," Li Xiaohan said. Miraculously, she figured out the weight of the broken silver. "These two small pieces are 1 tael each. The two larger pieces are counted as 2 taels. The total is 4 broken silver. two."

Wang and Li Xiandong looked at Li Xiaohan eagerly. Li Xiaohan smiled and said a total, "Our family has a total of 113 taels of silver."

Li Xiandong and Wang's eyes widened, they couldn't believe that they had such a huge family background.

Snow-white silver ingots were still piled on the kang. I knew in the past that I had some silver in my home, but the physical impact was far stronger than the numbers in my mind.

At this moment, Li Xiandong and Wang's eyes were filled with silvery white light.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Xiaohan glanced at his slightly stupid parents and continued to count the coins.

"This is 1,000 yuan per tao, a total of 1 tao, 2 tao, 3 tao, 4 tao... 9 tao."

A sling of money is a thousand cash, which is not too light. Most of these copper coins are also very clean. It is obvious that Wang takes good care of them.

"These are scattered copper coins, 1 Wen, 2 Wen, 3 Wen... 967 Wen."

"In total, our family has 9 copper coins, 967 coins."

Li Xiandong and Wang took a deep breath. How much is the total of silver and copper coins? ! My brain can no longer move.

Li Xiaohan thought about it, touched the big silver ingots of twelve taels each with a smile, and recalled: "When I first sold Sanqi, I made seventy-six taels. Later, I hired brick and tile masters to build houses. , serving the wine, dad used it and dropped two large silver ingots."

"Later, I sold Eucommia ulmoides twice. The first time I made 42 taels, and the second time I made 34 taels. At that time, I bought iron pots, furniture, cloth, mountain land, dug wells, and put in big silver ingots. I used it and exchanged it for five taels of silver ingots."

"The rest is the daily expenses of "bits and pieces", which is nothing more than buying some odds and ends, but it's not too much. However, after this round, our large items such as iron pots, axes, machetes, and hatchets have all been replaced. There is no shortage, and we won't spend so much in the future."

When she left her old house, Mrs. Chen didn't even allow her to take away a single bowl except for the food she had distributed. She said that it was all converted into the two ounces of family money. Every stitch and thread in this new family's home was worth it. It was repurchased.

It can be seen from this that the ancient saying that a broken home is worth tens of thousands of dollars is really reasonable. The little bits and pieces of money spent are not a small amount.

Li Xiandong and Mr. Wang listened to Li Xiaohan's calculations. They couldn't believe that they could make so much money and spend so much money. For a moment, I felt terrified and strangely satisfied at the same time.

Seeing that the two of them were silent, Li Xiaohan continued, "This time our family wants to buy land, and landlord Zhang's son said he wants cash, which is eighty taels..."

"Use the small silver first and keep the big silver ingot." Before Li Xiaohan finished speaking, Wang said hurriedly.

After all these calculations, I realized how valuable this big silver ingot was. Why did I spend the money stupidly in the city at that time?

"Yep!"

Li Xiandong and Wang were indeed a couple, and they nodded when they heard this.

Why did I sell my things and spend the money in the city? We should take the silver back and spend the copper coins at home first.

"Okay. Then give 5 taels of silver ingots to 4, and 10 taels of silver ingots to 6, for a total of eighty taels." Li Xiaohan said while sorting out the silver needed to buy the land.

Following Li Xiaohan's movements, Li Xiandong and Wang's hearts shrank together, how painful it was. Neither of them was willing to let go.

But when I think about it, it's money to buy land, and I feel lucky. Fortunately, I have so much money that I can buy land.

Li Xiaohan waited until Li Xiandong and Wang had touched enough, then smiled and said, "Father, mother, don't be reluctant, this is our family's land. Come, put this money in a bag, and dad will bring it in two days Let's go get paperwork with the clan leader. Then hide the remaining silver. It's time for us to have dinner."

Li Xiandong and Mr. Wang reluctantly looked away, and then hid the money like mice hiding food.

It was dark, and the family finished dinner by the light of an oil lamp.

Wang slept too much during the day, and Li Xiandong was full of passion. The two of them continued to make cotton combs in the kitchen with firewood and oil lamps, hoping to earn back some of the money they spent on the land.

If Li Xiaohan hadn't been able to hold on any longer and yawned repeatedly, neither of them would have wanted to go back to their room to sleep.

Early the next morning, it was dark, and Li Xiaohan was still half asleep and half awake. He always felt that he had not slept well last night. He had a lot of dreams, and when he woke up, he only had vague memories.

I was in a trance for a while, couldn't wake up, couldn't go back to sleep.

Suddenly I heard the sound of a gong and woke up with excitement.

"The Li family, the Li family, gather in the ancestral hall, gather in the ancestral hall."

Here we go, the clan leader is ready.

=== Chapter === 45

In the ancestral hall of the Li family, a group of people stood in Ulala.

Patriarch Li stood facing everyone with his face glowing red. Li Xiandong, Li Xinhe, Third Uncle and others were beside him. The rising red sun behind them these days made these people look particularly majestic and bright, which made people unable to help but sigh. Autonomous trust and obedience .

"Mom, my dad looks really good like this." Li Xiaohan whispered from below.

"No." Wang's eyes were shining, and she quietly replied, "You and your father look alike, and both look like your biological grandmother."

God, Mrs. Wang has never met her own mother-in-law, but ever since her mother-in-law taught her daughter, Ms. Wang feels that she and her mother-in-law are an inseparable family.

If you are good-looking, you will inherit your grandmother, and you will definitely not inherit your grandfather.

In fact, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong look nothing alike. Li Xiandong looks like Li Shengli, with a square face and dark skin.

Li Xiaohan has an oval face, his eyes are big and bright, full of vitality and seem to glow, his nose is straight, and his lips are full. Now he has developed a little flesh, and his skin is better than before. The ground is much whiter, and the branches are just in bud, and a little lotus is showing its tip.

Speaking of which, Wang is not similar to Li Xiaohan. Wang has a melon-shaped face, thin eyebrows and eyes, and a slender figure. In the past, her face was sallow, which made her look sad. Nowadays, life is comfortable, and it has become gentle.

So Li Xiaohan actually looks like her deceased grandmother.

If Li Xiaohan had to say it himself, she looked exactly like her in her previous life, and she would probably look more like her when she gets older.

Perhaps after traveling through time and reviving a new life, this face is the greatest fate and blessing.

The two mothers and daughters whispered timidly, feeling proud of Li Xiandong above, but some people didn't think so, such as the Laozhai family.

Li Shengli frowned. He, the eldest son, seemed to be different after the family separation. At this moment, the eldest son and the clan leader were standing together, and he felt that he could not recognize them. Obviously, the one standing on top should be his biological father.

Mrs. Chen's eyes narrowed, the corners of her mouth pursed tightly, and the malice in her heart boiled so much that she could no longer suppress it: her stepson was actually becoming more and more ambitious. If he became too ambitious, Li Shengli would have to deal with him again. . What to do with her Hyunnam Hyunxi? What should she do?

Mrs. Chen thought so, so she did so. She seemed to lower her voice, but ensured that the people around her could hear it and spread it, "What's going on? Why did Xiandong stand beside the clan leader? Although they said they were separated. , but you are still the real father, why didn't I tell you. No matter what, a father should at least stand with his son. Now the father is standing below and the son is above. Isn't this? Isn't it? The son is pressing down on his father."

Mrs. Chen kept talking about Li Shengli without mentioning herself at all. As expected, Li Shengli's face turned even more ugly after hearing this.

The faces of the people around him were slightly different when they heard this.

When Mrs. Chen saw this, a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, but it disappeared in an instant.

There was an undercurrent below, but no one knew it above. The clan leader opened his voice loudly in excitement, "Tribesmen, we gathered here today to tell you one thing. Before talking about this, let's take a look. This cotton comb. Xiandong, please demonstrate it to everyone."

After the patriarch finished speaking, someone carried out a basket of seed cotton from behind, with two cotton combs placed on it. Li Xiandong picked up the cotton comb with both hands and combed the ball of seed cotton cleanly. Finally, Gently pull out the cotton seeds from the comb teeth.

The people below were stunned, like a drop of water falling into boiling oil, and it boiled instantly.

"That's it? That's it?"

"Oh my god, why do you save so much trouble and end it like this?"

"What is that on his hand? What is it? Why have I never seen it before?"

"Okay, I believe everyone has seen how useful this little thing is. In order for everyone to save the time of picking cotton seeds by hand in winter and put on winter clothes as soon as possible, I told Xiandong to ask Xiandong to The ancestral hall teaches everyone how to make this cotton comb."

As soon as the patriarch said this, a louder noise rang out. Although they had a premonition that the patriarch would not say these things without reason, everyone was really surprised, happy and overwhelmed when such a big cake suddenly fell from the sky. Confidence.

"You can make this thing for your own use, or you can sell it. However," the clan leader said solemnly, "if this thing is sold, it must not tarnish the name of my Li family. It must be Hold on, the price of this cotton comb is only eight cents per pair, you can't lower the price without authorization, if the price is getting lower and lower, how can anyone still make money."

"But, Patriarch, if people in other villages also do this, then if we don't lower the price, won't it mean that we can't sell it?"

Someone from the tribe rushed to say it. After all, although life in their place is getting better, 8 cents is not a big deal, it is almost the same as a pound of meat.

"I have already thought about this for you. Other villagers will definitely copy it, so we have to make it better in quality."

"How to do it? First, we need to use brand new and clean rags. Don't take out the sloppy and tattered ones in your house to make people look embarrassed. I have already prepared the rags for you. In the city The cloth shop brings it back freshly, it costs 5 cents per catty, if you want it, go and weigh it."

"Secondly, the sticks of the cotton comb must use the dianthus unique to our clan. As we all know, our Li family originated from the Central Plains. Later, due to war and famine, our branch fled to Pingshan Village. Dianthus, follow us all the way. Ever since we fled, it has been a symbol of our Li family. It is hard and strong. Even though it is rooted in the barren soil, it still grows with luxuriant branches and leaves..."

The patriarch was talking non-stop above, and Li Xiaohan was smiling, not feeling impatient at all, looking at her father from the corner of his eye.

Look, even if she can't speak, it doesn't affect her father from standing at the top.

"Why do you feel that this dianthus doesn't look like us? Is it really brought here by our ancestors?"

In the midst of this surging passion, suddenly a small muttering came from next to me. It was Li Deyou, the grandson of his third uncle.

"No, that's what I met on the way when I was fleeing. When the old clan leader said that this thing was so hard and could be used as a weapon when sharpened, he carried it all the way. Later he settled down, and this thing It's the old clan leader who made the announcement. It's so special, and he will definitely be able to make money in the future, so he stayed."

The person who whispered the conversation was actually Li Shengyi standing nearby.

"The old patriarch still has a good vision. Now he can really make money."

"So, this thing is just like people. Some people grow slowly, but they can't suppress it. It should be his or hers, and jealousy can't come from it."

After Li Shengyi finished speaking, he glared at Chen and Li Shengli, and the warning in them was self-evident.

Mrs. Chen pursed her lips and retreated. Li Shengli lowered his head, not daring to look dissatisfied anymore.

Li Xiaohan, who was watching, couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. It seemed that this second uncle had a strong suppression on his grandfather.

This small disturbance only spread to a few people's mouths, and was finally suppressed silently. What everyone is more concerned about is what the patriarch said about the cotton comb.

After Patriarch Li finally finished speaking, everyone rushed up and asked anxiously: "Xiandong, how do you do this? How do you do it?"

"What's the hurry? Stand still and don't squeeze." The clan leader scolded with a straight face.

Forced by the power of the clan leader, everyone had no choice but to stand still.

At this time, it was impossible for Li Xiandong to be eloquent, but fortunately Li Xiaohan was prepared.

Li Xiandong looked slightly arrogant, holding up a cloth basket filled with a large number of bamboo sticks, and said dryly, "Each household will send a person who is best at weaving bamboo to take one of these bamboo sticks as a model. Then it was cut into this shape."

Then he raised another basket, which contained a stack of semi-finished shoe mats. "Make the shoe mats to this size and thickness, and tie straps on the back."

Finally, "I'll demonstrate it to you all."

After speaking, Li Xiandong lowered his head and made a cotton comb on the spot.

The people watching were already simulating what they would do in their minds.

After Li Xiandong finished speaking, the patriarch Fang said from the side, "I don't care how you do it for your own use, but if you want to sell it under the name of Pingshan Village cotton comb, you must do your best and don't fall for it. It will increase the reputation of our Pingshan Village. Otherwise, I will be the first to fail."

This is what Li Xiaohan reminded us to strengthen product quality control and build the Pingshan Village brand.

After the patriarch finished speaking, each family quickly selected a representative to come forward, received the bamboo stick as a sample, passed it to each other, looked at the semi-finished insole, tried using the cotton comb, and finally went to the patriarch. Pay the money and get the rag strips.

Li Xiandong was still demonstrating how to cut bamboo sticks. At this time, Wang was also pushed up to demonstrate how to drill holes for shoe mats. Li Xiaohan started by showing everyone how to comb cotton.

Li Xiandong's family of three once again became the center of everyone's attention.

However, I used to teach fried eucommia, but now I have a cotton comb. Whether it is the Li family who teaches or the Li family members who are taught, everyone gradually finds that familiar feeling.

By noon, everyone has almost learned it. The crowd gradually dispersed, and Li Xiaohan was also preparing to pack up and go home.

According to Li Xiaohan's own thinking, it is estimated that every household in Pingshan Village will use that cotton comb.

But it's hard to say how many people will sell it. After all, this thing is a handmade product. It takes a lot of effort and the profit is not great.

Those whose families have land and do not engage in this small business, such as the patriarch and his third uncle; and those whose families have no one or have other things to do, such as those who have planted a lot of fruits and need to harvest them quickly at this time. Li Dashu's family; and finally those who are lazy or orphans and widowed...

In the end, probably less than half of the people will be able to make cotton combs and sell them.

As for whether it can be sold or what the consumption power of Fucheng and surrounding areas is, I don't know.

There are also people from other villages who make cotton combs.

I hope it won't develop into vicious competition in the future. Li Xiaohan is worried, but she has done what she can, and the rest will be decided as the situation arises.

Back home, it was time for lunch again. Li Xiaohan quickly made a stir-fried cabbage with garlic, a steamed pork ribs, and finally an egg soup. It was rich in nutrients and complete in variety. The whole family ate it deliciously. A meal.

After finishing their lunch, Wang and Li Xiandong started making cotton combs again. Although he half sold and half gave away the cotton combing method because of the ten acres of dry land, it still used up most of the family's savings. Money is a person's confidence, and most of the Li family's confidence has gone away.

In addition, seeing that more and more people know how to use this cotton comb, it is estimated that it will not be sold for long. This income will make a profit in a few days, and Li Xiandong and Wang become more and more anxious. I wish I could grow four hands to work hard.

Seeing that the two of them were in such a hurry, Li Xiaohan wanted to persuade them not to worry, but after thinking about it, with half a lifetime of experience, Li Xiandong and Wang could not persuade them easily, so he kept silent and tried to help instead.

She is weak and not accurate enough, and she cannot cut bamboo sticks or punch holes in insoles. After thinking about it, I chose the job of glutinous rice paste on the soles of shoes.

In the afternoon, there was a knock on the door of Li Xiandong's house. Li Xiaohan volunteered to open the door. As a result, there were no people at all, only a few dianthus piled up.

The lengths of the dianthus vary. Some are carefully chopped into arm-length lengths, some are only stripped of hairy branches and are left with a long bamboo pole, and there are even those that are thrown at the door without even trimming the hairy branches. .

I guess it's not the style of one family, it must have been carried here by different people.

In the past, when Li Xiandong taught bark harvesting, it was a day's work in exchange for tuition fees; when Li Xiaohan taught how to fry eucommia, he brought all kinds of bacon to his door.

Now it seems that these dianthus are the tuition fee for this time.

"Dad, come quickly." Li Xiaohan shouted happily.

"What's going on? What's wrong?"

Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang didn't hear anyone's voice for a long time, and no one came in. Then they heard Li Xiaohan shouting. They were afraid that something had happened, so they hurriedly ran out.

"Dad, Mom, look, the tuition fee is here." Li Xiaohan pointed to the few dianthus and said with a smile.

Li Xiandong and Wang looked at each other for a moment, then both smiled.

After collecting the few dianthus, Li Xiandong and Wang suddenly felt less anxious for some reason. Although his subordinates still kept calm, their attitude became more and more calm.

Miraculously, after relaxing, my mentality improved a lot, but there were a lot of cotton combs coming out, and I felt that the quality of these cotton combs was higher. Although this is a laborious job, it also requires a lot of careful work. In a hurry, it always feels like something is not quite right.

Li Xiandong and Wang couldn't figure out the big reason, they just thought this was good.

Li Xiaohan is also in a good mood. Human instinct is to hope that they can live in a harmonious and loving environment. Especially when he lived in a peaceful, stable and economically prosperous country in his previous life, Li Xiaohan missed that atmosphere very much.

If food and clothing are enough to satisfy honor and disgrace, Li Xiaohan hopes that his surrounding environment can be better and more generous. Then, the accumulated wisdom and experience of these predecessors that she brought from later generations will have a better meaning.

At this moment, after Li Xiaohan, who was in a good mood, finished pasting the soles of his shoes, he took out the unprocessed peppers he bought yesterday, broke open the skins of the peppers one by one, and continued to carefully pick out the pepper seeds inside. Wrap carefully in paper and store in a dry place.

Then he stood up and said enthusiastically, "Mom, Dad, I want to give you something new to try today."

Li Xiandong and Wang knew that Li Xiaohan often had new things, so they thought it was their mother-in-law who suggested it. In view of Li Xiaohan's past excellent history of Panax notoginseng, Eucommia ulmoides, fruit pickers and cotton combs, they were very interested in Li Xiaohan. This time is also full of expectations.

Li Xiaohan took the pepper skins into the kitchen. He washed the rice and cooked the rice first. The peppers were the best for rice. This must not be left out.

Then wash the vegetables, cut the meat, and prepare various ingredients. The peppers deserve all the attention, and you must not overturn it due to lack of preparation.

When everything was ready and the fire started, Wang and Li Xiandong heard the sound of oil pouring into the hot pot, and then gradually smelled the aroma of oil, followed by another popping sound, and the vegetables were put into the pot... …

So far, everything is very proficient. Li Xiandong and Wang feel that their daughter is really good in the kitchen and in the hall...

However, something soon started to feel wrong, and an extremely overbearing and strong smell wafted out...

"Cough cough cough..." Mrs. Wang started to cough, and Li Xiandong quickly helped her stay away from the kitchen. It's just that this home is so big, and the smell is so overbearing, it seems to be everywhere.

"Xiaohan...did he miss? Did he burn the pot?" Li Xiandong asked hesitantly.

"No, Xiaohan has a good hand." Ms. Wang had a better understanding of Li Xiaohan's cooking skills, but she couldn't explain the reason for the pungent taste. After a while, she found an excuse with difficulty, "Maybe it's because the pepper looked like this at first and then got better gradually?"

The two of them held on to hope, but the smell was getting stronger and stronger. Mrs. Wang no longer coughs, but this taste...can I eat it?

The two of them were so worried that they forgot to continue with the half-finished cotton comb in their hands.

"Dad, Mom, dinner is ready." Half an hour later, Li Xiaohan opened the kitchen door and shouted cheerfully.

Wang and Li Xiandong walked along the eaves to the kitchen. Li Xiaohan had even laid out the bowls and chopsticks, and was waiting there with chopsticks and bowls in his hands, his bright eyes full of anticipation.

After Wang and Li Xiandong finished their meal and sat down, Li Xiaohan finally couldn't wait any longer. He happily raised his chopsticks and pinched a handful of fried bacon with chili and garlic sprouts.

Wow, the aroma of bacon and the spiciness of chili peppers are fully integrated together, coupled with the tenderness of garlic sprouts, the spicy taste of the dish makes the tongue secrete a lot of saliva involuntarily.

The whole taste buds were quickly awakened.

The more you chew, the more delicious it becomes, the more you chew it, the more exciting it becomes, and the more you chew it, the more you want to eat it.

Woohoo, this long-lost taste.

Li Xiaohan took another chopstick. It was so delicious and so satisfying.

After eating a few chopsticks, Li Xiaohan came back to his senses and found that Li Xiandong and Wang were holding a bowl of white rice, dumbfounded and had not yet put down their chopsticks.

"Father, mother, you guys eat it. I only added a little bit of spicy food. Can you give it a try? I asked later and Dr. Zhang from Renhetang said it's okay to eat it. Just don't overeat." Li Xiaohan sincerely invited.

Li Xiandong looked at his newly pregnant wife, then at his daughter who looked sincere, and took a chopstick with courage.

As soon as I put it in my mouth, I coughed and coughed. I couldn't tell whether Li Xiandong's dark face was reddened by the pungent taste, but the crazy coughing was real.

"Dad, dad, drink some water." Li Xiaohan hurried over and filled a bowl of water for Li Xiandong.

Li Xiandong drank half a bowl of water to stop his coughing, but Li Xiaohan's expression changed from pure joy and expectation to confusion.

There is a habit of eating dogwood near Pingshan Village. She considered that the three of them had never eaten pepper before, so the amount they added was very small. She took it as a reference to the Cantonese's medium-hotness - according to a Sichuan friend who ate with her, What, is this stuff too spicy? !

She accepted it very well. She originally thought that Li Xiandong and others could accept it, but she didn't expect such a big reaction.

Seeing the disappointment on Li Xiaohan's face, Mrs. Wang hurriedly said, "How about I give it a try."

Li Xiaohan turned around and said with hope: "Mom, try this spicy and sour fish. Don't put too much in it, just try a little bit."

This spicy and sour fish dish is actually a variation of the previous braised fish with pickled cabbage. First stir-fry the chili pepper until fragrant, then stir-fry the pickled cabbage until fragrant, and finally add the deep-fried fish and stew it dry to reduce the juice.

The sourness of sauerkraut, the spiciness of chili peppers and the freshness of fish are combined to make it called spicy fish.

This is a dish that is somewhat similar to the previous ones but a little spicier. Maybe Mr. Wang can accept it more easily?

Li Xiaohan harbored this suspicion, but still cautiously brought Wang a bowl of water first.

Wang learned Li Xiandong's lesson and took only a little bit of fish meat, then gently put it into his mouth.

Li Xiaohan looked at Wang's movements, stared at Wang, and chewed lightly, twice...

No cough.

However, Wang's face started to look a little strange, and Li Xiaohan quickly shouted: "Mom, spit it out, spit it out first. Drink some water."

Wang was just pregnant, but Li Xiaohan was still cautious and didn't dare to let her swallow it.

Wang spit it out as instructed, took another sip of water, and then said, "The taste is a bit strange, like dogwood, but not dogwood. I'm not used to it."

"Then let me try this."

With the last experience, Li Xiandong avoided the red pepper, only put a little fish meat, and then ate it in his mouth.

The good news is that Li Xiandong didn't cough this time. The bad news is that Li Xiandong took a big mouthful of rice and ate it.

In other words, Li Xiandong swallowed the jujube whole, and he did not enjoy the taste of the pepper.

In this family, he was the only one who appreciated chili peppers. Li Xiaohan took a bite of the hot and sour fish, which was sour and spicy, making his mouth wet, but still delicious.

Call it disappointing, but there is one thing. In her previous life, Li Xiaohan was not a person who wanted to eat spicy food at every meal. She appreciated the lightness of Cantonese cuisine, the freshness and sweetness of Zhejiang cuisine, and the richness of Shandong cuisine, but she could not miss the spicy and delicious taste of Hunan cuisine.

At that time, Li's father and Li's mother were both people who knew how to enjoy life, and they often took Li Xiaohan to enjoy delicious food. After her parents passed away, Li Xiaohan followed their parents' wishes and lived a good life. She also had several friends in terms of delicious food. I have friends who are friends and often drive out to eat delicious food.

However, this dynasty is not the same dynasty after all. There is no one who can speak to this taste.

Li Xiaohan felt a little lonely for a moment, just like the loneliness he felt alone in the dark night after his parents died in his previous life.

"Xiaohan, what's wrong with you?" Wang asked worriedly. For a moment, she felt that her daughter was very far away and heavy. At this moment, her heart twitched.

"Mom, I'm fine. I just think it's such a pity that you don't like such delicious food." Li Xiaohan said with a smile, regaining his usual vigor, "Mom, you If you can't eat this pepper, I'll get you a steamed egg."

"Oh, I'll go with you." Wang said. The man was careless, and she was afraid that Li Xiandong wouldn't notice, so she didn't want to be separated from her daughter.

"Okay." Li Xiaohan said neatly, Wang was also his mother.

Both mother and daughter are good at cooking, but they only cooked a steamed egg in a short time, and Ms. Wang gradually felt relieved.

"Dad, I steamed a lot of steamed eggs, you can eat this too." Li Xiaohan said.

"Sure." Li Xiandong picked up the chopsticks again and the family continued to eat.

Li Xiaohan still ate the fried bacon with chili peppers and the spicy and sour fish. The spiciness didn't bother her.

Wang only ate steamed eggs and Li Xiandong. After one or two steamed eggs, he also had the spicy and sour fish a few times.

But in the end, it's just a small amount of vegetables and a big meal.

Li Xiaohan didn't stop her. Her father was interested. She hadn't eaten spicy food for a long time, and her appetite was so strong that she actually finished the two plates of spicy food by herself.

It was just that the night was deep, and Li Xiaohan lay in bed unable to sleep, staring at the dark roof.

The north wind howled outside the window, and occasionally the roar of an unknown beast came from far away. So far, so close.

At this moment, she suddenly and sadly discovered that she was not just purely happy about Wang's pregnancy again.

If you have enjoyed a unique and complete preference, how can you accept one-half, or even less than one-third.

But what can she do?

Can she blame Li Xiandong and Wang?

Li Xiandong and Wang had always been very caring towards her. Whether it was before or after she awakened her memory, or even after she knew she was pregnant, Li Xiandong and Wang never said anything about letting her give up the unformed embryo.

Li Xiandong was afraid that she would get frostbite, so he always asked her to use hot water. The firewood prepared at home was never empty.

Wang was very sensitive to her own emotions, and she didn't feel relieved until she was about to go to bed.

Can she persuade Li Xiandong and Wang not to have this child?

Not to mention that this is an existing life, even before becoming pregnant, much of the humiliation and suffering that Li Xiandong and Wang suffered in their lives came from being childless. The background of this era and the world are saying that having a son is the right way.

How can people fight against the whole world?

She had always convinced herself this way, but it was in front of this little pepper that she felt homesick.

At that moment, she was finally able to admit that she was homesick and wanted to return to that world.

However, in that world, she died. Her parents have long since passed away.

The night is long, and no one understands the loneliness that no one can say.

=== Chapter === 46

After waking up from sleep, Li Xiaohan recovered more than half of his body.

One cannot harm oneself by making possible guesses.

At present, Li Xiandong and the Wang family value boys over girls because of the possible unborn boy. Are they asking themselves to be a brother-supporting demon?

No.

Therefore, there is no need for her to speculate in this direction and then be on guard, making herself full of energy.

If Li Xiandong and the Wang family have this tendency in the future, Li Xiaohan also hopes that he will have the ability, status and sufficient mental capacity to handle this matter and take responsibility for his own life.

There is nothing to lose, you are the one who loves you most.

Li Xiaohan, who figured it out and never made things difficult for himself, became energetic again the next day.

Her latest goal is still pepper.

Eucommia ulmoides and Panax notoginseng are naturally cultivated and unsustainable, and artificial cultivation requires more than three years to grow, which is not a suitable way to make money; fruit pickers and cotton combs are clever in their ingenuity, but they are easy to Being counterfeited, and morally, I can't watch myself make a fortune from these while ignoring others who are still in dire straits.

Therefore, these two are not suitable for exclusive business. It is better to use them generously to earn some popularity and reputation.

But pepper is different. Without it, everyone's life would have little impact, but if used well, it is a tool that adds icing on the cake. And Li Xiaohan, who has memories of his past life, doesn't remember too many secret recipes. It is a one-stop shop integrating cultivation, processing and wholesale. It is perfect to make money by making exclusive secret recipes.

What we need to do now is to adjust the pepper recipe to suit the taste of the local people.

Li Xiaohan wanted to understand and was full of energy. As soon as he opened the door, he found that he had gotten up late.

Forget it, if you get up late, you get up late. It's rare to sleep in, and there won't be anything big the next day.

After Li Xiaohan finished his breakfast, he drank a glass of goat's milk, which is now a must-have for the Li family. He poured some dried mushrooms from the kitchen and soaked them in hot water. He also took out a handful of peppers and soaked them in hot water.

After soaking the peppers and mushrooms, Li Xiaohan sat down to help paste the shoe mats.

Because Doctor Zhang said that Wang's hands would not be affected by excessive exertion or cold for the next seven days, Li Xiandong took over the work of cutting bamboo sticks and punching holes by himself, while Wang made cotton-padded clothes instead. Anyway, the cotton I bought at home has been combed, and the weather is getting colder. Now that I can make cotton-padded clothes, I can still wear them in time.

"Xiaohan, if you like that pepper, you can continue to eat it. Leave me and your father alone."

Ms. Wang didn't know why her daughter liked this pepper, but her daughter had finished both dishes last night and was in a bad mood. She got up late in the morning, so Ms. Wang comforted her.

"Well, mother, I understand." Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "I will fry a spicy pepper dish alone for lunch."

It's still her own home, so she's not polite.

When Li Xiaohan said this, Wang and Li Xiandong were relieved. A family of three worked together, and the north wind roared, but it did not blow into the house.

When the sun rose to the middle of the sky, Li Xiaohan put down what he was doing and went to the kitchen to make lunch.

"Remember to use hot water. We have enough firewood at home."

Now that Mrs. Wang has listened to Dr. Zhang's medical advice and is no longer able to touch cold water, the work in the kitchen has basically fallen into Li Xiaohan's hands. Afraid that Li Xiaohan, a young man, didn't know the severity of the problem, and the frostbite recurred, Mrs. Wang couldn't help but give a few words of advice.

"I got it, mother."

Li Xiaohan returned. After a while, the smoke of fireworks rose in the kitchen, and then gradually the smell of rice and oil came out. Finally, a sudden crackling sound came out, and the smell of pepper last night was heard. the taste of.

Perhaps because they got used to the smell last night, Li Xiandong and Wang felt that it was a little more acceptable now. At least they didn't have to move as far away from the kitchen as possible. Li Xiandong and Wang looked at each other, then lowered their heads silently and continued working.

After a while of burning incense, Li Xiaohan shouted in the kitchen, "Dad, mother, it's time to eat."

Today, Li Xiaohan cooked two dishes, one was stir-fried pork belly with fragrant dried pork, a small bowl of which was specially made spicy, and the other was bacon stewed with radish soup.

The staple food is the cooking cakes made a few days ago. Now that the weather is cold, the cooking cakes and meat can all be accommodated. The Li family made a lot of poop at once, and there is no need to knead flour every day.

Li Xiaohan first took a sip of the soup to warm up his whole body, then he broke open the cooking cake, put a chopstick of dried pork belly into it, and finally closed it and took a big bite.

The softness and fragrance of the cooking cakes accommodate the overbearingness of the dried pepper and pork belly, which is both conflicting and harmonious. Li Xiaohan ate with satisfaction.

When Li Xiandong saw Li Xiaohan, his eyes narrowed slightly, with a look of enjoyment on his face. He somehow turned his chopsticks into the spicy stir-fried pork belly with fragrant dried herbs, picked up a small amount, mixed it with the non-spicy one, and then imitated Li Xiaohan's example. With a cold look, he broke open the cooking cake, stuffed it into it, and took a bite.

First he frowned, and then he chewed slowly, the more he chewed, the more his eyebrows relaxed.

"Dad, isn't it exciting? It feels warm." Li Xiaohan asked with a raised eyebrow.

As soon as Li Xiandong swallowed it, Fang replied, "That's true. It's very hot to eat this pepper in this winter. It's just a bit too spicy."

Today's spiciness has been reduced a little, so Li Xiandong can chew it.

"That's because you just ate it and you're not used to it yet. It's okay. Don't force it. If you like it, try more. If you don't like it, just tell me." Li Xiaohan said.

"Yeah." After finishing this bite, Li Xiandong's next sip was indeed bacon and radish soup. After finishing the soup, he added several more fried pork with pepper.

Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows.

While I was eating, I suddenly heard a knock on the door of Li's house.

The three members of the Li family initially thought it was another person coming to throw carnations to pay tuition, so they ignored it. However, the knock on the door stopped for a while and then sounded again.

"I'll go." Li Xiaohan stood up and said, wondering who it was, who kept knocking on the door. Aren't everyone bored at home with that cotton comb right now?

When he opened the door and saw Li Xinhe standing at the door, Li Xiaohan's eyes suddenly lit up.

Li Xinhe didn't know why, but he suddenly felt like he was being targeted, but this was at his uncle's house, what was the danger?

"Sister Xiaohan, why did you come out to open the door? Where is your father?"

"Brother Xinhe, you have something to do with my dad. Come in, my dad is at home."

Li Xiaohan brought Li Xinhe in with a smile. Li Xinhe followed him into the door without doubting his presence, but walked and turned to the kitchen.

Li Xinhe looked slightly embarrassed. In the eyes of a scholar like him, it was impolite to interrupt during the meal. But after everyone had come in, it would be ugly to leave again, so he had no choice but to move forward.

Li Xiaohan seemed not to notice Li Xinhe's embarrassment at all, and went to the kitchen to get a bowl, filled it with a bowl of soup, "Brother Xinhe, sit down and eat some together. If you want anything, we'll see you after dinner." explain."

"Yes, Xinhe, take a seat. Try my family's craftsmanship." Li Xiandong liked Li Xinhe, his nephew, very much.

Even Wang looked at Li Xinhe eagerly.

Li Xinhe was stuck on top of the three members of the family and couldn't get off, so he could only sit down awkwardly. He wanted to take a few sips of soup, but unexpectedly, Li Xiaohan had already eagerly taken a pair of clean chopsticks and handed them to Li Xinhe. .

"Brother Xinhe, do you want to try this? This is a sweet pepper imported from overseas. We don't have it here. The doctor from Renhetang said that eating a little bit can warm the body, dispel cold, and reduce qi and eliminate food. "

As soon as he said these words, Li Xinhe saw with sharp eyes that Li Xiandong and Wang's expressions were suffocated and their expressions became uneasy, but Li Xinhe's curiosity had been aroused, "Are there any peppers from overseas? There are such things? Efficacy? It smells slightly similar to our dogwood."

"Yes, brother Xinhe, do you want to try it? Don't be careful, it's a bit spicy, even worse than that dogwood, and most people can't accept it."

Li Xinhe thought it was nothing serious. He went out a lot and ate dogwood at the inn. It could be spicy.

Unexpectedly, "Cough cough cough." Li Xinhe's expression changed drastically, he covered his mouth, turned around and coughed.

"Brother Xinhe, drink some soup to relax." Li Xiaohan quickly handed over the radish soup that had been served earlier.

Li Xinhe waved his hand to indicate no, and he calmed down for a while. Li Xiaohan saw that he tried to chew a few times, and then he didn't cough, but he closed his eyes, and there was a little moisture in the corners of his eyes.

After a pause, Li Xinhe opened his eyes, continued to swallow the mouthful of meat, and turned his head. Now, the three of them saw his eyes with watery eyes, which almost made him cry. .

Some people are born with more developed tear ducts. Li Xiandong and Wang were particularly embarrassed.

Li Xiaohan felt that his clan brother was very interesting and had his own spirit of exploration. You could see that he was holding back tears and wanted to finish the meal by himself, but refused to drink the soup.

However, suddenly eating chili peppers was really exciting. Li Xiaohan apologized slightly: "Brother Xinhe, how are you? Does it matter?"

"It's okay, this pepper is really overbearing and very different from our dogwood. I didn't expect this species introduced from overseas to be so magical."

Li Xinhe just thought this was a new thing, and he felt that he had gained a lot of experience, "Did you buy this from Renhetang?"

"Yes. Brother Xinhe, do you like to eat? Do you feel a warmth in your chest now? If you eat out, would you order it?" Li Xiaohan asked again.

Li Xinhe thought for a while, then took another chopstick and said, "I'll try again."

See, she said that this clan brother is very adventurous, and now he wants to try again.

Li Xinhe tried again and took a few mouthfuls. This time, he drank the soup. Li Xiaohan and others also took it easy and continued to eat their own meals. Li Xinhe also imitated Li Xiaohan and ate the fried pork with peppers between pancakes.

Finally, everyone had enough to eat and drink. Although Li Xinhe ate less, he almost took down his chopsticks with everyone and swallowed the last mouthful of soup. Fang said, "It's very novel and overbearing. But if you often I guess I might not be able to bear it. And now when we go out to eat, such an exciting meal might be a little indecent."

As for scholars, how can one eat with tears streaming down his face? Li Xinhe thought so.

"Oh. That's it." Li Xiaohan nodded.

Li Xinhe means it as a reference, but not all, and as a scholar with some self-restraint, he can only represent a small part of the market.

Besides, he said something indecent and indecent, but Brother Xinhe swallowed it while holding back his tears. Hey hey hey.

After eating, Li Xinhe remembered that he came over for something.

"Uncle Xiandong, someone in the village who is interested in selling cotton combs in Fucheng is thinking of going to the city the day after tomorrow. I asked you if you want to go with him?"

Because the patriarch built the cotton comb as the brand of the Li family, and took over this business, Li Xinhe became the specific executor.

As the first family to make cotton combs, Li Xiandong's family also successfully sold cotton combs in Fucheng. Naturally, everyone wanted to follow Li Xiandong.

Although it is said that if people in the city want to sell cotton combs, they must first choose Li Xiandong's family. However, Li Xiandong's family cannot make so many cotton combs to satisfy everyone. The most important thing is to follow Li Xiandong's villagers into the city. Don't panic.

"Why are you in such a hurry? It took more than two days to do this the morning after tomorrow. You can't make many combs?" Li Xiandong asked.

Li Xinhe sighed inwardly, "Uncle Xiandong, your family is small, so naturally you can't do much. If there are four generations in that family, a big family, working from morning till night, that's not a big deal." Few.

However, it is not a good thing to say that the number of people is small. Li Xin and his family are also short of manpower, so they did not say this.

"It's just that the villagers are anxious, fearing that other villagers will copy it, and want to sell it earlier and make more money, so they can be safe."

"That's true." Li Xiandong nodded, and then looked at Li Xiaohan.

"Then dad, let's go too. Mom, you don't need to go this time. There are many people in the village and we don't need anyone to demonstrate." Li Xiaohan said.

Li Xiandong and Wang thought at the same time that they were pregnant and it was indeed not appropriate to run around like this anymore. As for the follow-up consultation Dr. Zhang said in seven days, they can walk slowly as a family of three by then. So they all nodded.

In this way, it was decided to enter the city the day after tomorrow. Li Xinhe completed the task and left. Those villagers who wanted to sell cotton combs worked hard to make cotton combs.

Two days later, early in the morning.

Today is a bright morning. The weather is very good and there is no snow. It is very suitable for traveling.

The cold wind mixed with the crisp air was sucked into the lungs, making people shiver hard.

"Mom, dad and I are leaving. You can close the door and go back." Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong carried their backpacks on their backs and waved to Mrs. Wang who was standing at the door.

"Hey, be careful on the road. Dad, please watch the road." Mrs. Wang said.

"Don't worry, come back."

Li Xiandong replied, taking the lead to move forward, followed closely by Li Xiaohan. Wang, who stayed at home, watched the two of them turn the corner. The wall of Dashu's house blocked their view, and they could not see each other again. The two of them just closed the door and went home.

When Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong arrived at the entrance of the village, the village chief's ox cart was already waiting.

When everyone around saw Li Xiandong, they quickly said, "Xiandong, are you here? Xiaohan, come quickly, I've reserved a place for you."

No one was surprised at all that Li Xiaohan came with him. Now that Li Xiandong's family has interacted more with the villagers, the villagers have a very clear impression of Li Xiandong's family of three.

Li Xiandong is their capable farm man. He doesn't talk much, but is down-to-earth and reliable. He is similar to most people in the village, but more capable;

Mrs. Wang is just an ordinary woman, but she still has some skills on the stove;

In their family, the smartest and most accomplished person is Li Xiaohan. He is smart and big-headed. Look at the Eucommia ulmoides, the fruit picker, and the cotton comb. Ideas are coming out one by one. His brain is extremely smart.

As for the characters in the Separation prequel, Li Xiandong was dull, Wang was rough, and Li Xiaohan was spicy, they are now a joke in the eyes of everyone.

However, I heard that when the family was separated, Li Xiandong's family of three cried bitterly in front of his mother's grave, and they suddenly became prosperous after being blessed.

There are many families in the village who are now preparing to double the offerings to their ancestors during the Chinese New Year, hoping that their ancestors will also bless them.

Li Xiaohan didn't know that he had been regarded by everyone as a person who was protected by his grandmother. He only felt that everyone was very enthusiastic about him, and everyone asked him to sit on the bullock cart.

Looking around, there were all men around her father's age or stature. Li Xiaohan's small stature might not be able to keep up with the crowd who were eager to make money. After refusing, Li Xiaohan got on the bullock cart.

The group of people walked towards Nafucheng in the cold wind and went straight to the West Market. They were familiar with the roads and found a place to lay straw mats.

This row of stalls was arranged and occupied a large space in the West Market. This was the result of Li Xinhe's control and persuasion.

The surrounding small stalls and hawkers immediately stayed away when they saw this group of people: there were so many people, ten thousand people, what kind of dispute could they have, they couldn't fight. Think about it, if you can't fight, you can still hide.

Therefore, in the time it took for half a stick of incense, all the nearby stalls and vendors actually stayed away. The vendors who came later did not approach the Li clan members, but there were quite a few empty seats around them.

A pair of scholarly mother and son were placed next to their Li family.

Li Xiaohan also observed that both mother and son were quite thin. The son was about fifteen or sixteen years old. He was wearing a washed white cotton robe, which was similar to the style of Li Xiaohan's cousin Li Cairong, but it was not close-fitting and empty. Hanging on the body, the person looks as tall and thin as a bamboo pole. He has thick eyebrows and big eyes, and he looks good, but his cotton clothes are not very warm, and his lips are white from the cold.

The mother-in-law was also wearing an old patched cotton robe, but it seemed a little thicker. His face was sallow and full of sorrow, very similar to the Wang family in the past. At first glance, he looked like a miserable person.

The mother and son didn't say much, they just quietly played with their things: a broken table, then covered it with red paper and put pen and ink on it.

I saw the scholar exhaling hot breath into his hands, rubbing them vigorously, moving his hands, then holding the pen, closing his eyes, concentrating, and began to write the word "blessing" on a piece of red paper.

The attitude of a scholar has emerged, and he can be described as proud and graceful.

Look at that word carefully, it's really good. Anyway, Li Xinhe next to him nodded frequently, and the others who didn't understand also looked in awe.

However, scholars are not affected by people who are watching overtly or covertly. After writing one piece, they spread it on the straw mat and continue writing the next.

Li Xiaohan saw that he still wrote the word "Fu", so he stopped paying attention and turned to look at the Li clan members.

Looking at it, yo, I thought that all the people in the tribe were selling cotton combs, but it turned out that they didn't waste time on other things. The original bamboo sellers, fruit sellers, and straw blind sellers all came out. It makes the Li family look like a department store. In addition to the cotton combs that every household has, they also have everything else.

Li Xiaohan looked at it for a while and shouted to Li Xinhe: "Brother Xinhe, come here."

Li Xinhe stood aside and heard Li Xiaohan's cry. He walked over and asked, "Sister Xiaohan, what's the matter?"

"Brother Xinhe, look at the way these things are arranged in our village, they seem too numerous and complicated. Why not put stalls with similar things together, such as Brother Da Zhuang who sells pears, Uncle Fugui who sells persimmons, and Uncle Guiqian who sells dates? You can definitely put them in adjacent stalls. In this way, when people from the city come over, they will immediately come here. I originally wanted to buy some pears, but maybe I can buy them all. "

"There are also those selling bamboo dustpans, bamboo benches, and straw curtains. They can all be placed together."

This is actually a common agglomeration effect in later generations. Most of the markets in later generations have such stalls. But it was still limited by that era. How could there be such large-scale markets in this dynasty, and how could there be any market management.

So right now, no one has really done this.

After all, first of all, there have never been so many people from a village coming to the market together, and usually only three or five people who are close to each other come together;

The second is that there is no strong leader. The village chiefs and clan leaders are all from families with some wealth. How can they set up these stalls on weekdays and earn dozens of pennies with hard work. Li Xinhe would never appear here normally.

When Li Xinhe heard this, it made sense. He thought for a while and felt that this was feasible, so he began to coordinate everyone, "Brother Da Zhuang, Uncle Fugui, and Uncle Guiqian, please move your positions and put them together. Brother Guizi and Brother Dazhi, you also move here." Together…"

Originally, Li Xiaohan and Li Xinhe did not avoid everyone when talking, and if you think about it carefully, it seems to be the truth.

If you want to buy some fruits, you must go to a place with a lot of fruits. Otherwise, if you run east and west, and finally find that the one you started with is the most suitable, wouldn't it be tiring?

Thinking like this, those who are flexible are eager to try, and those who are not flexible enough, ah, Xinhe is a scholar, he must be the next clan leader, and Xiaohan has such a smart mind, so what they say must make sense. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yourself, just listen.

Under various influences, the Li family's stall adjustment was very smooth.

After the adjustment, when everyone took a look, it really felt like that.

Li Xiaohan also directed the clan members, who were mostly old and thick, to pick the good-looking fruits and place them in front of them. Everyone should place them in a horizontal line, not to be uneven; and to polish the bamboo weavings a little brighter. , don't put big items forward, they will block the view...

After such an adjustment, no matter how stupid or frustrated anyone is, everyone's eyes can't help but come here.

There is also the popularity of cotton combs. "Are you the Li family in Pingshan Village who buy cotton combs? Why are there so many people? Which one is it? I heard that a little girl and her family sell the authentic ones. ."

Li Xiaohan's crisp voice sounded, "Auntie, we are all from the Li family in Pingshan Village, and our cotton combs are all made of dianthus. Take a look, take a look, which family is successful? ."

"Hey, it's you, little girl. I still recognize you. They all say that the ones you sell are very useful." The aunt's eyes lit up and she walked over, "It's eight cents for a pair." Right? Give me bamboo sticks?"

"Yes, aunt, this is the price we have."

"Then give me two pairs." The aunt readily took out sixteen copper coins.

The Li family couldn't help but be jealous when they saw how easily Li Xiaohan got married. However, they were the first to make cotton combs, and people in the city recognized them. Can't compare, can't compare.

Li Xiaohan collected the money, handed the cotton comb to the aunt, and said with a smile, "Auntie, do you want anything else? It's cold, look at how noble the aunt is, the fire kang in the house is burning. If it's burning, It's easy for this person to work hard. Why don't you sell some pears to moisten your body? It will make your heart and lungs feel better."

"Hey, little girl, you have really sharp eyes. The fire bed in our house is on fire." The aunt said happily. She is not one of those people who are reluctant to part with charcoal fire. The fire bed started burning early, "Where did it come from? Pears, if they're not good, I don't want them."

"They are just good pears that are ripe on the tree. They are rich in moisture and sweet. Brother Da Zhuang, please cut half of them and give them to my aunt to try."

Before Li Dazhuang could react, Li Xiaohan came over, took out a small knife, picked up a pear and cut a piece for the aunt, "Auntie, try it, we have grown more than ten No one can say that the taste of an old pear tree is not sweet."

"Then I really want to try it." The aunt took it unceremoniously and put it in her mouth. "It's really good. Your pears are pretty good. How much does it cost per pound?"

Li Xiaohan signaled to Li Dazhuang, but Li Dazhuang was not too stupid and quickly quoted the price, "Five cents per catty."

This is the real market price. This is how Li Dazhuang sold it at the last market.

"I have to choose by myself." The aunt squatted down and said.

"Of course, just be careful and don't fall. But madam, you can see that you are in good shape at first sight. I say it in vain."

"Hahaha, you little girl is so sweet."

The aunt was extremely happy to be praised. Although she still chose carefully, she subconsciously bought a few kilograms more than the budget. After calculation, it was 3 and a half kilograms, 17 Wen.

So everyone watched helplessly as Li Xiaohan helped Li Dazhuang complete a deal.

When it was over, Li Xiaohan said, "Auntie, do you need anything else? We have everything."

The aunt turned her head and looked around, suddenly her eyes lit up, and she ran straight towards the stall next to her, "Hey, you guys really have everything. Scholar, write me a good fortune, I've done the math, I got one recently The word "auspicious" is prosperous, and if you keep it, all your wishes will come true."

"Come on, aunt, I will write it well for you." The scholar said loudly.

Li Xiaohan shut up for a moment.

No, aunt, that's not from our village.

=== Chapter === 47

Seeing the aunt running straight towards the scholar's stall, the surrounding Li clan members were filled with disappointment. How could such a generous and generous customer be snatched away by the scholar?

However, they were disappointed, and everyone now vaguely understood the reason why this person was so angry.

Besides, there is no one who ruins people's wealth for no reason, and the scholar has not offended them. There is no need to talk about things at this time, just let him mess around once.

So the Li clan members cheered up and looked at Li Xiaohan again, hoping that Li Xiaohan could bring them some such customers.

Li Xiaohan was under great pressure and could only raise his clear voice and shout, "Come and take a look, come and take a look, the Li family's cotton comb from Pingshan Village is here again. It's cheap and easy to use, don't miss it. There are also all kinds of fruits and bamboo weavings, everything you need, take a look and take a look."

As soon as Li Xiaohan shouted, other people in the West City actually looked over.

"Are they the Li family in Pingshan Village who sell cotton combs?" asked an old man in his fifties wearing a cotton robe.

"Yes, uncle, what do you want?" Li Xiaohan greeted with a smile, "It doesn't matter if you don't have me, uncle is here."

"Your bamboo is pretty good. Isn't this bamboo stool also made of dianthus?"

"Uncle, you have a sharp eye and you can tell that our bamboo is unusual. Yes, our bamboo stools are also made of dianthus. A mature dianthus that has grown for ten years cannot be any harder. I guarantee that you will be able to sit on it even if you weigh more than one person." It's not bad. Brother Dazhi, take out your bamboo stool and show it to me. We won't tell any lies."

"Hey, uncle, come this way." Li Dazhi answered smartly, and it was finally his turn.

"How big do you want it to be? Is it okay for you to sit on it? Sir, of your stature, don't worry. You can sit on it however you want."

"It's not me sitting on it, but my little grandson. He is being naughty and throwing the stool around all day long. I just want to buy him a sturdy one."

"Well, uncle, look at this one. This one is shorter and suitable for a little baby. It won't fall apart no matter how you throw it."

"Okay, let me take a look."

As expected, the uncle was a knowledgeable person. He looked over the bamboo stool over and over, sat on it and weighed it a few times. Not only did he buy a small stool, he also bought a few for adults to sit on.

A total of 30 articles, Li Dazhi laughed so hard that his mouth widened.

There are quite a lot of customers like this. They bought a cotton comb, and then they saw something suitable and bought it. After all, there is no place to buy. The quality of the goods here is also good and the price is reasonable. Why do you have to go all the way? .

Even the book stall of the scholar next to it has done a lot of business. It is winter after all, and the Chinese New Year will be celebrated in just over a month. This scholar's calligraphy is really good. Buy some blessing characters or write a couplet. I'm not afraid of it even during the Chinese New Year.

Seeing this situation, the nearby stalls and hawkers who had silently stayed away before now came back silently.

The more vendors there are, the more people there will be. Suddenly, the area around the Li clan in Pingshan Village became a good location in the eyes of small stall vendors.

After all, this good position is limited. Some people take it, and some people come late and react slowly, so they inevitably fail to take it.

It's useless to be jealous if you can't take it, but there are a few families who can't take it, so they rob it.

"Then Madam Zhu, why are you a junior? You don't even give in when you see the elders coming."

The Li clan didn't dare to say anything in front of them, but the scholar was stared at. After all, scholars have to dry copybooks and so on, which takes up a lot of space. Their stall for one person is equivalent to that for four or five people. In addition, mother and son are small and weak, so they are being targeted.

But it sounds like he is still an elder.

"My mother has returned to her parents' home and has become a widow. She is not under the control of the Lin family and will not be allowed to do so."

"Lin Heng, why are you talking to your elders? Don't think that you are no longer our Lin family when you return to Zhujiacun. Let me tell you, you are a scholar and an elder in an unfilial clan. With your reputation, don't think about taking the imperial examination in the future. ."

As soon as this name came out, Li Xiaohan, who was listening to the gossip with his ears perked up, shrank his pupils.

Lin Heng.

The male protagonist of the original book.

At this moment, he was in such a miserable state. He even set up a stall to sell food in the cold weather, but he was even chased away. How miserable.

But think about it, the original book said that Lin Heng's parents originally belonged to two incompatible clans, but the two really loved each other, so they decided to get together regardless of their family's opposition.

Originally, Lin's father's family had some assets, so it was easy for him and his son to study. Unexpectedly, Lin's father fell ill, depleted the family's assets, and died young.

The marriage between Lin's father and Lin's mother was not welcomed by the tribe. They all felt that the two were traitors, and their relationship with the tribe was very tense.

After the death of Lin's father, the Lin family felt that Lin's mother was a nuisance and oppressed the two mothers and children even more.

Lin's mother really couldn't live any longer, so she packed up and went back to her parents' home, Zhu's home, and cried a lot, half begging and half begging to stay in her parents' home.

However, people in Zhujiacun don't like Lin Heng either. This person named Lin is unlucky in Zhujiacun.

But Lin's mother was unwilling to change Lin Heng's surname. How could a scholar deny his father's surname? Moreover, Lin's mother not only refused to listen to her mother's family's advice to remarry, she also frugally relied on embroidery to support Lin Heng's education.

That is to say, Lin Heng was so talented that Zhu Xiucai agreed to accept him as his disciple. The life of these two mother and son was a little easier.

However, Zhu Xiucai's reputation is not very useful to the Lin family, but there is only one scholar in the Lin family. Who is afraid of whom? So when they met in the Western Market, the Lin clan relied on their seniority to come over and grab the stalls.

These plot backgrounds of the original book flashed through Li Xiaohan's mind, and combined with the scene where the Lin clan members were making a fuss in front of Lin Heng's mother and son's stall, it was even more pitiful.

What a tragedy, this is the correct configuration for a male protagonist.

His life experience was miserable, he was bullied, and he was at his lowest point.

But it doesn't matter, this is all temporary. Soon Lin Heng will be promoted all the way to scholar, scholar, Jinshi, and number one scholar, and then come back to take revenge on the tribesmen who have oppressed their orphans and widowed mothers.

So, don't pity the original male protagonist at all, he will get up on his own. Now I feel sorry for the male protagonist, just to collect people for his backyard.

After all, after Lin Heng succeeded, he became known as a compassionate person. Because his mother was living a miserable life, Lin Heng sympathized very much with the women. There were not even a dozen, but six, poor women in the backyard of his family.

Li Xiaohan disagreed more and more. Why, he was so pitiful that he had to take it away in his own backyard.

The disapproval on Xu's Li Xiaohan's face was too obvious. Seeing this, Li Xinhe was afraid that Li Xiaohan's sense of justice would explode, so he explained in a low voice: "The mother who runs the stall was married from Zhujia Village to Linjia Village, and returned to Linjia Village after she became a widow. The person next to us who is making trouble is from Linjia Village. The affairs of their family are very complicated, and the two clans are also at loggerheads. We must not interfere, lest we get angry."

"Brother Xinhe, I understand. I won't." Li Xiaohan replied, I know more than you do, and I won't interfere.

Li Xinhe was relieved when he heard Li Xiaohan agreed. Although Li Xiaohan was smart and smart, he was still young after all.

This matter between the Lin and Zhu families was very tense, and the mayor could not reconcile it even if he came forward.

They represent the Li family today and it is really not appropriate to interfere.

But at this moment, the people on both sides didn't know what to say. Xu Lin Heng's mother and son actually refused to obey. The Lin clan couldn't help but pushed Lin Heng away and overturned Lin Heng's stall. , the pen, ink and paper flew together and fell to the ground.

Lin Heng was pushed hard and took a few steps back, still unable to stand firm.

Just like that, the Lin clan members didn't give up. There was that extremely wretched middle-aged man who tried to step on Lin Heng's pen that had fallen to the ground. The purpose was self-evident.

That is a scholar's pen. Breaking the pen is more humiliating than breaking the waist.

Moreover, even with Li Xiaohan's unsophisticated eyes, he could tell that the pen looked a bit old, but the barrel was shiny and the bristles were full and neat. It was a good pen, and I thought I would cherish it very much. Probably, it is the most valuable thing in Lin Heng's mother and son's possessions.

The one who was more knowledgeable than Li Xiaohan was Li Xinhe who was standing aside. Li Xinhe, who originally said not to interfere, exclaimed, "No!"

Mother Lin, who moved faster than Li Xinhe, rushed over, stretched her hand forward, and grabbed the pen.

The foot that fell did not stop, but stepped on Mother Lin's hand.

"mother!"

Too much!

It's too much!

Li Xiaohan frowned and disagreed very much. His eyes flashed past the figure approaching from the left front and he shouted loudly, "The Qing Gang is here, Brother Ma Wu is here."

Sure enough, as soon as these words were said, the Lin family members who were moving their hands and feet did not dare to move anymore. Mother Lin also took the opportunity to pull out her hand. Lin Heng ran out and grabbed Mother Lin's hand. Hands look carefully.

Fortunately, Li Xiaohan shouted early and stepped on Mother Lin's foot before he could use any force. It is estimated that the bones were not injured, but the injuries to the skin and flesh were unavoidable.

Just like that, Lin Heng glared at the Lin clan members. It would be no exaggeration to say that they were full of hatred.

There was indeed a deep hatred. No wonder Lin Heng, after passing the examination, would ruthlessly retaliate against his clan members regardless of his reputation. He beat the Lin clan to pieces and was very miserable.

Lin Heng's eyes were as blank as those of a wolf cub. Naturally, the Lin clan would not understand and wanted to take action, but Brother Ma Wu was already in front of him, so he could only endure it.

"Fifth brother, come here in person today."

Li Xiaohan greeted with a smile, not forgetting to hand over two pairs of cotton combs, as if Brother Ma Wu was not part of the group collecting protection money, "We have very good rules."

There are other people who don't follow the rules.

Lin Heng's stall next to it was in a mess. Brother Ma Wu and others were not blind, so they naturally saw it.

"What's going on?" Brother Ma Wu gestured to his men to accept the cotton comb, turned around and shouted.

Anyone who dares to cause trouble on the territory of their Youth Gang must be tired of living, right?

Lin Heng is worthy of being the male protagonist of the original book. He was not timid at all at this time and immediately stood up, "Fifth brother, I did a good job setting up a stall here, but this group of people came to make trouble, robbed the stall, and overturned it. Got my stuff. Fifth Brother, do you see this?"

At this time, combined with the mess behind Lin Heng and the embarrassed posture of Lin's mother, the victim was indeed very miserable.

The Lin clan member next to him quickly explained, "Fifth Brother, this kid is a junior in our clan. We are just teaching this kid a lesson. We dare not offend you at all, Fifth Brother."

Lin Heng pursed his lips, half dissatisfied and half mocking, "Can the younger members of the clan just grab stalls and teach others a lesson in this market? This is the West Market, not the Lin Clan Ancestral Hall."

What kind of place is the West Market? This is the secretly default territory of the Qing Gang.

If you teach people a lesson on the territory of the Qing Gang, will the Qing Gang die? !

The Qing Gang is naturally not dead, so Lin Heng's words are heartbreaking.

Brother Ma Wu jumped up, "I don't care what the Lin family and the Mu family do. Do you know where this place is? Get out of here."

Seeing this, the Lin clan members did not dare to say anything more and quickly prepared to leave.

"etc."

The person who spoke aloud was a man next to Brother Ma Wu. He was wearing a suit of soap-colored clothes and had a lean build. He looked like a warrior. He had single eyelids, dark eyes, and a slight beard. He could not tell his age. . I just feel that this person has a slightly deeper temperament.

"You are causing trouble in my Qinggang's territory, and you just want to leave? Leave a hand, or the buyer's money."

This man spoke unhurriedly and in a calm tone, but the content was very uneven.

As soon as these words were said, the people around the Qing Gang changed their leisurely postures. As if they were given instructions, Brother Ma Wu shouted: "Didn't you hear what our elder brother said?! Leave one hand, or Leave the buyer's money behind! Choose quickly."

The Lin clan members froze as a whole, and after a moment they did not dare to resist. They took out their money bags from their arms with regret on their faces. Several young men from the Qing Gang came forward and grabbed all the money bags.

Only then did the Lin clan members dare to move in despair, but before leaving, the leaders glanced at Li Xiaohan with evil eyes.

It's all this little girl's fault. How could she have attracted the Qing Gang if she hadn't shouted loudly?

Li Xiaohan frowned, this kind of villain is a bit troublesome.

But before she could react, Li Xinhe, who was behind Li Xiaohan, immediately stepped forward and blocked Li Xiaohan's left front.

Li Xiandong, who was diagonally behind, picked up the largest bamboo stool from Li Dazhi's stall next to him, walked up quickly, and blocked Li Xiaohan's right and front.

Li Dazhuang, Li Guizi, and Li Guiqian, who were carrying burdens from the next stall, all took out their poles. The long poles were all made of dianthus. They would not underestimate the lethality of this pole.

The rest of the Li clan, one by one, whatever they had around them, they all stood up with the guy in their arms. Each and every one of them had evil eyes, and they all wanted to fight, and no one was timid.

The sword is on the verge of breaking out.

"Our surname is Li. Pingshan Village, Li."

Li Xinhe, who was standing in the front left, spoke word by word. He spoke with the gentleness of a scholar, and his words were very clear, and there was no chance of misunderstanding.

It's just that he doesn't look like a scholar at this moment, especially the dozen or so men surrounding him. They are a group of unruly people, and they start fighting every minute.

The Lin clan's eyes shrank. The Li clan in Pingshan Village were notoriously difficult to deal with.

Although he has always claimed to be a scholar, he belongs to a scholarly family and has a rich heritage, but he is not even a scholar.

But all the surrounding villages know that the Li family of Pingshan Village cannot be easily provoked.

Their entire clan had fled the famine, and they had the spirit of walking over the corpses of the dead in their bones. What was even more terrifying was that they were still united in their hearts, and would usually grab water and fields. The clan leader had so much prestige that he could fight wherever he pointed. Oh, it seems like none of them have any brains.

It would be very difficult to go against such a clan.

But the people in the surrounding villages also secretly thought in their hearts that it would be great if they were born into the Li family. In this way, at least I won't be bullied, not to mention that the Li family has a large area of forest land. Not only does every man have a share, but the output of the common land in the family will also help the old and the young. How many people envious. In this world, only such a clan can be relied on.

People of the Lin family have naturally heard of the reputation of the Li family in Pingshan Village. Everyone knows that the cotton comb was passed down by the Li family in Pingshan Village.

Just thinking about a talkative little girl, I stared at her twice, but I didn't expect that she actually touched the iron plate.

Damn it, a little girl is so precious, and that skinny young man is actually threatening them. The surname Li is amazing.

Not to be offended.

It's really unlucky to go out today.

The Lin clan lowered their heads lower, stepped faster, and walked away dejectedly.

After the Lin clan walked away, the Li clan put down their weapons and grinned again, looking like simple farmers.

The people on the sidelines will no longer be deceived by this illusion. Anyone who dares to believe that these are harmless old farmers is a fool.

Brother Ma Wu had a cold sweat on his head. He remembered that he had had an idea against Li Xiandong at that time. Fortunately, his elder brother stopped him, otherwise he would be in danger.

The eldest brother, Ma Wu, squinted his eyes slightly with a meaningful look in his eyes.

"Leader Ye, I'm offended." Li Xinhe raised his hands and clasped his fists in salute to the elder brother of the Green Gang. He was very polite and apologetic. He actually knew that the surname of the leader of the Green Gang was Ye. "The little girl in the clan is outspoken and offended the villain. We adults are a little anxious."

The implication is that Li Xiaohan was just a blunt reminder that someone was causing trouble in the Qinggang, so the Qinggang should not blame her too much.

When a villain threatens a little girl, the tribesmen should be angry.

Besides, it's not like there was no fight.

The leader of the Qing Gang who had previously kept saying, "If you cause trouble in the Qing Gang's territory, you will either keep your hands or sell your money, Yao Er Er Qi Wu Er Bar Chair", now he gently put it down and only said slowly, "Ping Shan. Li, I remember."

Li Xinhe's attitude became more modest, "They are just dirt-legged people digging in the fields. They have to go out to sell goods for a few pennies in the cold winter months. Leader Ye's family has a big business and can be remembered by Leader Ye. It's our honor. Gang Leader Ye, don't worry, we villagers will definitely abide by the rules."

On other people's territory, you can't just keep your head down. Their main business is farming, not collecting protection fees.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Xinhe said these words, the faces of the younger members of the Green Gang behind Gang Leader Ye all looked much better.

Although these guys, the "mud-legged guys," are very arrogant, they are also very sensible. They give "face" and understand the rules, so they can relax a bit.

At this time, Li Xiaohan had already helped patch it up and secretly reminded Li Dazhuang and others to pay the protection fee.

The younger members of the Qing Gang looked at their leader's face and then stepped forward to take it. A younger member took a few pears from Li Dazhuang and took a bite.

Maybe I thought it was delicious and took two more .

Li Dazhuang still looked honest and honest, and everyone in the Qing Gang was even more satisfied.

After collecting the protection fee, everyone in the Qing Gang moved to the scholar's booth.

The Li clan members who had just breathed a sigh of relief were worried about the scholar, and glanced at him quietly. They could see clearly just now that the mother and son were really miserable.

It was clear that An'an was earning a few pennies from his job, but the elders in the clan came to make trouble, the stall was opened, and the mother-in-law also injured her hand. She will probably have to bear the bad reputation of being unfilial in the future.

I don't know if this scholar can escape from the Qing Gang. He doesn't have much money, can't be beaten, and doesn't seem to have a clan backer behind him.

To say that their Li family is better and the people are united, this kid just didn't get a good pregnancy.

The Li family members were filled with pity and pride. At this time, everyone from the Qing Gang had arrived at Lin Heng's stall.

It was just that Lin Heng had just put the broken table in place, and the red paper with and without writing was scattered on the floor, and the ink was also spilled on the floor.

Only Lin Heng grabbed a writing brush snatched back by his mother, with bulging veins on the back of his hand and a straight spine, facing the Green Gang members alone.

No matter how weak he is, he still has this feeling of facing the evil forces alone.

Gee, Li Xiaohan sighed in his heart, the male protagonist of the Dian family is like this, he looks very strong, he must not be deceived, he must be the one who saves the hero.

However, before Li Xiaohan could finish his sigh, the leader of the Green Gang, Ye Gang, spoke up, "Scholar, write a few big characters for us and say 'Collect cotton comb'."

What? !

Is the Qing Gang interested in getting involved in the cotton comb business?

Is the Qing Gang still interested in a business worth just a few cents?

The Qing Gang is involved, and the others still have a few points left. Who can grab food from the Qing Gang's mouth?

Lin Heng turned his head to look at the Li clan members in surprise.

Li Xiaohan narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at the Qing gang leader.

Li Xinhe frowned.

The Li family headed by Li Xiandong seemed to have no brains for a moment, and they all looked at Li Xiaohan and Li Xinhe.

In the silence, Li Xiaohan suddenly said sharply: "Gang Leader Ye, how much do you plan to collect cotton combs?"

Gang Leader Ye turned his head and stared at Li Xiaohan while he was drinking tea, but Li Xiaohan was not afraid at all and asked with a smile, "Gang Leader Ye, how much are you prepared to charge?"

"Miss Li, are you interested?"

"Of course I'm interested. Gang Leader Ye, you collect the cotton combs and we sell the cotton combs, one by one. Isn't this just right? As for the price, why don't we talk about it?"

What are you afraid of? If the negotiation is successful, Party A will purchase the father. If the negotiation is not successful, the big deal is that the cotton comb will not be sold in the West Market. Why, the Qinggang can still go to Pingshan Village and force people to make cotton combs.

Li Xiaohan just understood a truth. His Li family is really not like those suffering old scalpers and farmers who don't know how to resist.

I have always said that my family came to escape from famine, but I still don't understand what it means.

It turns out that I am a troubled person among the troubled people who come from poor mountains and harsh waters.

Really... Really, unexpected.

"Then please, Miss Li, come with us and let's talk."

Gang Leader Ye actually pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled. This smile diluted the gloomy and ruthless aura on his body, making him look a bit younger. His thin lips were slightly curved, with danger and temptation.

"Xiaohan." Li Xinhe and Li Xiandong shouted in a low voice.

"I wonder where Gang Leader Li wants to talk? I'm young, timid, and have never seen the big world. It's better to find a place where everyone is familiar with it."

It is absolutely impossible to find a place that everyone is familiar with, your hometown.

"Then let's go to Tongfu Restaurant."

Tongfu Restaurant is a time-honored restaurant in Fucheng. It is rumored that it has a military background. Generally, ordinary people do not dare to cause trouble, including the Qinggang.

Gang Leader Ye seems to really want to talk.

Li Xiaohan looked at Li Xinhe. Among the Li family, only Li Xinhe probably knew about Tongfu Restaurant. After all, Li Xinhe called Gang Leader Ye by his last name in person.

Li Xinhe frowned and asked in a low voice, "Do you really want to talk?"

Li Xiaohan also lowered his voice and replied, "If it's safe, we can talk. The weather is getting colder and colder, and I braved the wind and snow to set up a stall in the West Market. After all, it was too difficult and I couldn't sell a few times. Let's see if there is a chance." If it lasts for a long time, everyone in the clan will be able to earn more income."

Li Xinhe pondered for a moment and responded, "Sure, I'll go with you."

The two reached an agreement, Li Xinhe nodded, and Li Xiaohan turned to Gang Leader Qing and said, "Gang Leader Ye, please."

=== Chapter === 48

The group moved to Tongfu Inn at the West Market exit.

On the Li side, Li Xinhe and Li Xiaohan are taking the lead, and Li Xiandong will definitely follow.

On the Qinggang side, there are only the Qinggang leader and a middle-aged man with a mustache. Judging from his figure, he is not capable of fighting, but looks a bit like a cashier.

However, the Li family is still worried. Li Xiaohan and Li Xinhe are both good young people in the clan. The Li family cannot afford to break any of them. If they are injured or damaged, the clan leader can Skin them.

After thinking about it, Li Guiqian followed with a few young men.

They didn't go into Tongfu Inn, they just squatted outside the inn. Anyway, if something happens, they will arrive as soon as Li Xiaohan calls.

The leader of the Qing Gang didn't mind either. He took a total of 5 people including Li Xiaohan and booked a private room.

He really wanted to talk. People like them who eat with a knife are really going to hurt people. Li Xin, the scholar, and the little girl Li Xiaohan can't escape the number of breaths. Li Xiandong who is following them may not even react, let alone staring at them. Li Xianqian and others outside.

Tongfu Inn is indeed one of the best inns in Fucheng. The private rooms are very stylish and are separated by wooden boards on all sides. When the door is closed, you can hardly hear what is said outside, and naturally you can't hear anything from the outside. What does it say?

There are green plants grown in stone pottery pots in the side room. I can't recognize them, but I just feel that the branches and leaves are thick and full of vitality.

There are freehand landscape paintings hanging on the wall, and Li Xiaohan looks very beautiful anyway.

It turns out that restaurants in ancient times were like this. No, she's not a country bumpkin. Without Gang Leader Ye's treat, she might not be able to afford a meal here.

The waiter first served four small plates, fried peanuts, dried tofu, pickled radish and pickled courgette. As the host, the Qing gang leader directly ordered a few dishes without asking other people's opinions.

However, until the matter is settled, no one is in the mood to eat.

However, the identities of the two parties were too different. One was an old farmer who cultivated the land, and the other was a person receiving protection fees. For a while, neither party knew how to speak.

Finally, it was Li Xiaohan who broke the silence first, "I wonder what Ye helped to buy this cotton comb for? This cotton comb is a small profit, and it takes a lot of effort to make. Really, It's a bit too big to be on the big stage, and it's not worthy of the Qing Bang family's great cause."

Li Xiaohan opened her mouth to express her doubts. According to her impression from her previous life, weren't the people from the Qing Gang supposed to fight, grab territory, collect protection fees, open entertainment venues, and smuggle goods?

The cotton comb that costs just a few cents is really not suitable.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Xiaohan said this, Gang Leader Ye looked a little embarrassed, thinking that Li Xiaohan had touched on a sore point.

After coughing lightly, Gang Leader Ye didn't know what to say.

In fact, the names Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong are not unfamiliar to the Qinggang.

The first time I heard about it was that a farmer discovered Eucommia ulmoides and led the tribe to make a fortune by frying Eucommia ulmoides. At that time, Ma Wu wanted to rob the father and daughter, but was stopped by the leader of the Qing Gang.

The second time I heard that it was Li Xiaohan who made the cotton comb.

Ever since Ma Wu brought back two cotton combs on the first day, Gang Leader Ye started to pay attention to this thing.

It's just that Ma Wu's original idea was indeed wrong. Although this thing was a one-of-a-kind thing, it was cheap and easy to copy. In fact, the Qing Gang did not value the few pennies.

However, Ye Yehan still had someone copy it.

In fact, the Qinggang has always struggled with cotton, and they have their own reasons.

People in the West City think that the Green Gang is very scary, but Gang Leader Ye knows his own business. He is just collecting protection money like winter melon and tofu in the East and West Market. How can a truly powerful person be like this?

This city is the fiefdom of King Ding. King Ding has an army of one hundred thousand, an elite army that has fought bloody battles every year.

The Qinggang doesn't matter, it's just a mouse in the dark, determined by the king's laziness. One day King Ding got tired of it, and that was when Ye Yehan died.

Especially at this time, the prince is dead, and King Ding and King Qi are competing for that position. King Ding will never tolerate anything that is not worthy of publicity under his rule.

It is very possible that the people under King Ding have already taken care of him before he even raised his tail.

He can live today and be here today because he has always thought a lot and acted very carefully, because he has always understood the rules and abided by King Ding's rules: never do great evil and never follow King Ding's rules. When the forces are against each other, Renhetang, Tongfu Restaurant, Qingshan Academy... Anyone who has anything to do with Prince Ding, he behaves himself.

Just like today, when he came to Tongfu Restaurant, it was to send a signal that he had not committed any crime or stepped on the line. He was willing to put himself under the eyes of King Ding.

However, the mouse secretly also wants to live and live a better life.

One of the Qinggang's main sources of income is escorting goods for merchants and charging high prices, which they earn by risking their lives with bandits in the mountains;

Then after the route is familiar, the Qinggang will transport goods by themselves, from the south to the north, wherever they are rare;

Now the Qinggang found that the money they earned from transporting goods was almost the same as the people who collected their goods and opened shops. Isn't this ridiculous? They worked so hard, but they couldn't make this last bit of money.

Therefore, the leader of the Green Gang wants to open a few shops. They dare not touch those things that are in high demand secretly, but they can do things on the surface.

Regardless of those serious merchants, the cost of buying the goods, the cost of inviting them to escort them, and the final profit from selling the goods.

They do this business without paying protection fees. When the time comes, King Ding will get tired of making money openly and one day and kick him away.

When he collected cotton combs, he didn't think about how much money he could make from it. He just saw that this thing was in short supply and used it to gain popularity. Yes, he also asked the old shopkeepers of those businesses for advice. Popularity is very important. (The shopkeeper was scared to death.)

Spread it out and say that the Qinggang is just smuggling + coolies who want to get ashore clean.

Gang Leader Ye had a good idea, but unfortunately this thing really couldn't be played. They knew how to do it, but in fact they just couldn't play it well.

After working on it for several days, I also sent workers to the surrounding areas, but I didn't receive many cotton combs. In desperation, Qinggang could only choose to acquire

However, these must not be told directly to Li Xiaohan and the others. The Qing Gang had to shrink in front of King Ding, but they were still mighty in front of others.

"If Gang Leader Ye is in trouble, you can pick something to talk about, and maybe we can give you some advice. If that doesn't work, just tell us the purchase price."

After a long silence, Li Xiaohan finally broke the silence.

Don't say anything you can't tell. You don't want to hear the secrets of the Qing Gang that you can't tell. People who know too much die quickly.

The words "Maybe we can give you some advice" moved the leader of the Qing Gang. According to the information collected from the leader of the Qing Gang, this girl from the Li family is very smart, not as smart as ordinary people.

He finally spoke, "Our Qing Gang is going to open a few shops, and we need to gain some popularity. Collect some cotton combs to gain popularity."

As soon as these words came out, Li Xiaohan, Li Xinhe felt relieved. It was good to gain popularity. If the Qinggang wanted to do serious business, it couldn't be better.

Li Xiaohan smiled slightly and said, "When it comes to gaining popularity, our cotton comb is perfect. It is unique, cheap and easy to use. Today, we people in Pingshan Village rely on this cotton to set up our stalls. The popularity brought by the comb is obvious to everyone. I wonder how much the Qinggang is prepared to pay for this cotton comb?"

Gang Leader Ye believed that Li Xiaohan was telling the truth. In fact, he came over to watch because of the unusual bustle of the Li family's stall today.

When the younger brother came over to report today's situation, it gave him great inspiration and made him feel that half of the long-standing problem was solved. When he opens a shop, what he needs is excitement.

However, inspiration did not prevent Ye Gangzhu from lowering the price, "4 cents per pair."

"That won't work. We can't even make back the cost at 4 cents per pair. No one will make cotton combs." Li Xiaohan refused without thinking.

"Why can't you make money back? Don't think that I don't know. The only cost you spend is the rags used to paste the soles of your shoes. I paid too much for 4 yuan."

"Leader Ye, you are not right." Li Xiaohan was so serious that he did not give Leader Ye any face.

"Doesn't the bamboo stick cost money? We picked young dianthus that are exactly 5-7 years old. We can make bamboo baskets, dustpans, and baskets with these bamboos. When they grow up, we can make bamboo stools and bamboo mats. What's a penny to put on a cotton comb? Although we didn't spend money to buy it, we also paid the cost."

This sentence makes some sense. Gang Leader Ye didn't say anything, and Li Xiaohan continued to pursue the victory, "There is no cost for grinding bamboo sticks, pasting soles, and drilling holes. Those can only be done by veterans. That's good. If you don't regard these as costs, then we might as well put in a little more effort into the farmland and livestock, and the harvest will be bigger in the future."

Today, she will popularize the concept of labor cost to these ancient people. Don't always treat things that don't cost money as costs, and don't treat your own labor as payment.

"So, it is absolutely not possible to have four coins per pair. If that's the case, we might as well do nothing and lie on the kang. This way we can eat less food and nourish our bodies." Li Xiaohan Right speech.

For a moment, the two men from the Qinggang were almost convinced by Li Xiaohan. They only felt that the four cents a pair from the Pingshan villagers seemed to be cheating.

However, Gang Leader Ye was still someone who had been through the storm, and he came to his senses after a while, "Then tell me, how much does it cost?"

"A pair of seven articles ."

"No. I, the Qing Gang, make one penny. Isn't this a joke?" Pingshan Village used to sell eight pence for a penny, but this price has been set. The customer will not accept it if it is too high. "I'll give you five penny." ."

"If you ask me, the Qing Gang shouldn't make a penny."

Li Xiaohan was light and airy, but he didn't say anything. "Brother Ye, you open a shop and do big business. You can earn 3 cents from a pair of cotton combs. You can only earn 3,000 yuan from 1,000 pairs." Wen, less than 3 taels of silver, this is nothing, it has lowered my own grade. Why not just be more generous and gain popularity. When popularity comes, what do you do? Do not make money."

So let's stick to 8 texts. Is that what you mean?

Not to mention the middle-aged men from the Qing Gang who came with them, even Li Xiandong and Li Xinhe were shocked. It was the first time they saw someone bargaining in reverse like this. It sounded reasonable, but it was all nonsense.

However, Gang Leader Ye was not deceived after all, "The Qing Gang does not do charity."

Don't be deceived.

Li Xiaohan was not disappointed either, "Both sides take a step back, six cents. Nothing less. No matter how little you do, I will give you some advice."

"What's your idea?"

"The reason you bought this cotton comb is just to gain popularity. Popularity is a thing, and so is a discount."

"It's not advisable to make too much of a single thing. Of course, if you want to make an unlimited supply, we won't be able to supply it for a while. What I mean is, you might as well make fifty a day. , if there are too many, there won't be any. If you don't open a shop in Fucheng, you should be alone in the first few days, and you don't have to worry about popularity."

"Of course, this method won't work in Fucheng. Cotton combs in Fucheng are no longer new. If you are willing, we can offer a big discount on the opening day. Buy as many pieces as you want and get a free gift. Order small gifts or discounts, such as 10 yuan off for purchases over 100 Wen, a cotton comb for purchases over 100 Wen, etc. I guarantee that those ladies will rush over."

The lady who grabbed the eggs on sale was so impressive . Li Xiaohan began to use the supermarket tricks of later generations to deceive people.

This is business wisdom based on thousands of years of experience. I heard the middle-aged man behind Gang Leader Ye nodding frequently.

"Are these ideas worth the 6 cents?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"It's worth 6 cents." Gang Leader Ye responded, "But we have a condition. We need Pingshan Village to exclusively supply it. No one, including you, can set up a stall to sell this cotton comb anymore."

"No, if you, the Qing Gang, don't play this anymore, we are all at the mercy of others. The Qing Gang just wants to gain popularity, so I will give you my time before the year, but we will still have to set up a stall in the future. Besides, what happens after the new year? Imitations are also coming out, this thing is just a novelty."

Gang Leader Ye thought for a while, he really didn't earn these 2 cents from this cotton comb. Besides, he had done the imitation thing himself, so for this reason, he said, "Sure."

In fact, he was still influenced by Li Xiaohan's tricks.

"Then it will be a pleasure to cooperate." Li Xiaohan drank a cup of tea, spent a lot of water, and finally concluded a business deal.

"It's a pleasure to cooperate." It was probably the first time for Gang Leader Ye to discuss business with a girl like this, and he felt a little uncomfortable after the conversation.

After the business deal is concluded, there will be no paperwork. The Qinggang does not write paperwork, but it seems that they will not default on the debt.

We were not all in the same group. After talking and having something to eat, we went out.

Before leaving the door of Tongfu Restaurant, Gang Leader Ye suddenly glanced at the private room on the second floor.

Second Young Master Zhang.

Gang leader Ye was shocked.

After the death of the prince, the second son Zhang took over the general's property with lightning speed. At this time, everyone vaguely knew that the properties under the name of the General's Mansion were inextricably linked to Prince Ding's Mansion.

The property of Jiangjun's Mansion is one of the medicine boxes, money bags and rice bags of Prince Ding's Mansion.

The crown prince's position is still unknown, so King Ding's logistics are in full swing.

Gang leader Ye didn't dare to think about the reason for this. This was not something that a person like him could think about.

However, under the turmoil, a person like him who couldn't wait to be on the stage had to shrink down in order to survive. This is also the reason why he opened a shop.

Gang leader Ye had a lot of thoughts in his mind, but he only dared to look at him once, and then lowered his eyes, as if to avoid it.

A person who can make the Green Gang leader take the initiative to avoid him?

Li Xiaohan felt confused and looked towards the second floor. Only the waiter was busy going back and forth, and there was no one else.

Turning his head again, Gang Leader Ye's expression had returned to normal.

Maybe he was dazzled. Li Xiaohan muttered in his heart.

On the second floor, where Gang Leader Ye had just looked, a respectful voice shouted, "Second Young Master, please."

"What are the Qinggang people doing here?" the second young master asked coldly.

"It is said that we are discussing business." The subordinate replied respectfully.

What kind of business are you doing with the father and daughter who sell Panax notoginseng and Eucommia ulmoides?

How can these two groups of people interact?

The second young master's eyebrows were slightly raised.

"Send someone to keep an eye on them and keep the Qing Gang out of trouble recently," the second young master ordered.

Although Qinggang has always been sensible, the timing is really delicate at this moment.

There is news in the capital that the emperor is preparing to appoint a prince before the year, but there is no news whether it is King Ding or King Qi.

At this time, everyone in Prince Ding's mansion was tensed up and down.

Including under the rule of King Ding, all the spies and monsters in Wei and Wei had to shrink down. If you can't shrink it, you will never get up again.

The general trend of the world affects everyone in this way, and no one is exception.

It's just that some people know that they are in it, some people are unaware of it, some people are facing the waves, and some people are avoiding and watching the waves pass by.

Li Guiqian and others, who were squatting in the corner of Tongfu Restaurant without realizing it, saw Li Xiaohan, Li Xinhe and others come out safely, and hurried over, "Xinhe, Xiaohan."

"Uncle Guiqian, we have concluded a business deal. Let's talk about it after we go back to West Market." Li Xinhe said.

"Yeah." Li Guiqian glanced at the three people who entered. They didn't look like they were in trouble, so he nodded.

Several people returned to the West Market together. Since nearly half of them followed them to Tongfu Restaurant, the remaining stalls were entrusted to other tribesmen to help take care of them.

This shows the advantage of Li Xiaohan letting people of similar tribes place similar stalls together. It is convenient, and the prices of similar products are probably known.

Seeing Li Xiaohan and others coming back, the Li family looked over one after another. Seeing that Li Xiaohan and others were unharmed, they continued doing business.

Even the reader next to me stopped and looked at it for a while before continuing to write.

When the clan leader was absent, Li Xinhe informed everyone of the deal on behalf of the clan leader.

Most people are very satisfied. Although the difference is two cents, it is guaranteed. It's such a cold day, and I don't know how much I can sell even though I'm squatting at this stall.

Leave it to the Qinggang. Once the Qinggang sells it, the money will be safe.

Don't look at 6 Wen, they can earn almost 3 Wen - the Li family's cost calculation method is the same as that of the Qing Gang. Bamboo does not cost money, and labor does not cost money, that is, The rag strips cost a little money.

Therefore, the Li clan smiled even more happily at the Qing Gang.

This is the food and clothing parents.

At this time, the Qing Gang had already set up a stall. It was nothing more than a few large characters written by scholars posted in front of an upside-down basket, and then there were several empty baskets placed there.

Because he wanted to give the Qing Gang exclusive business, Li Xinhe organized everyone to sell all the cotton combs he had.

Happy.

It's just that other people sold cotton combs and fruits and bamboo weavings and set up stalls. Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan had nothing but cotton combs. They kept all the fruits for themselves. Li Xiandong never had time. After that, building houses, planting Panax notoginseng, cutting Eucommia ulmoides, and combing cotton, all of which could not be delayed in tending the fields. If you can take the time to make bamboo weaving for your own use, you can do it by taking advantage of every opportunity.

Therefore, the two of them were free for a while. However, everyone in Pingshan Village came out together, and his family went back first. This was not the case.

Furthermore, the weather was getting cold, and Li Xiandong secretly wanted to give his daughter a ride on a bullock cart.

It was cold and tiring to walk back on my legs. There was snow on the ground now. Even though it was a thin layer of snow, my shoes would definitely get soaked when I walked back. It was so uncomfortable.

Forget it, since there is a bullock cart now, Li Xiandong thought about letting Li Xiaohan ride on it.

Li Xiandong thought about riding the bullock cart, and Li Xiaohan also thought about it, "Dad, where did you buy the wine on the day you joined the team? I want to buy a few jars to make wine at home. I also want to buy some spices."

When buying wine, Li Xiaohan recalled that she once had a friend who was a food partner. They had an ancient method of secondary brewing chili wine, which was very spicy in the mouth, but after eating, the wine + chili The power of it indeed makes the whole person feel warm.

Li Xiaohan tried the wine, and her friend who was a rice cook saw that she liked it, and he was very hospitable and introduced her how to brew it.

She wanted to give it a try.

Spices are also used in wine making, but they are also useful in cooking. Don't use too many spices in braised vegetables, sauces, and pot bottoms.

It just so happened that Li Xinhe came here with an ox cart today, so it would be in vain if he didn't do it, otherwise he would have to carry it back manually in the future.

"Okay." Li Xiandong had no objection to this. Before he went out, Mrs. Wang was afraid of an accident, so she brought him money.

The two of them said something to Li Xinhe and walked away to buy something.

Poor Li Xinhe, although he has nothing to do with him anymore, he still has to take care of the bullock cart and wrap up the show here.

Li Xiaohan followed Li Xiandong to the tavern. The tavern was an ordinary tavern, and the wine was just ordinary turbid wine. The shopkeeper who was looking after the store was an old man. He looked at the two of them and hurriedly came over to greet them.

Li Xiaohan now also knows that in ancient times, shops selling ordinary handmade products were most likely the business of a small family, such as the mutton Chen. The family started by raising sheep, and then killed the sheep themselves. Selling sheep, the tavern in front of me is probably the same.

Therefore, it is true that a secret recipe supports a family.

"Shopkeeper, can you try this wine?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"You can try it, but you're just a little girl. Should you try it or your adults?"

The shopkeeper walked out slowly. He had been selling wine for half his life and had dealt with many people. However, this was the first time that a teenage girl came in and asked him if he could try it. Taste this wine.

"Try them all." Li Xiaohan replied.

She drank alcohol in her previous life, and this body has indeed never drunk alcohol in this life. However, she is just trying the taste now and is not afraid.

The shopkeeper glanced at Li Xiandong and saw that Li Xiandong had a natural look on his face and had no objection. He felt weird in his heart. It's weird to be a father, and it's weird to be a daughter. He just heard it. When he was at the door, the little girl called her daddy.

After all, you are a guest when you come to the door. No matter how strange the guest is, there is no reason to chase them away. "We have three kinds of wine, which one do you want to drink?"

"What are the three types of wine? What are the differences?" Li Xiaohan asked curiously.

According to what she knew, liquor should not have appeared at this time, and the technology for distilling liquor had not yet been developed.

"The grains used for brewing are different, and the craftsmanship is also different."

The shopkeeper picked the one he could tell and said that they sell wine. Different wines have different prices, so they must be different. It's not like the shady businessman who uses bad wine to pass off as good wine.

"There is the ordinary turbid wine, which is mostly brewed from millet and corn; and there is the good turbid wine, which we call good wine, which is mainly made from rice. It is more expensive to support people."

In fact, on the day Li Xiandong joined the clan, he served ordinary turbid wine to the tribesmen, and the main table served the good wine made from rice.

The shopkeeper slowly took two bowls and continued: "Of course the best wine is mellow wine. This wine is reprocessed from good wine. It is easy to be intoxicating and the price is even more expensive. Which one do you want?" "

"Let's all give it a try." Li Xiaohan was quite thick-skinned.

After hearing this, the shopkeeper poured a bowl of wine for Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong.

Originally, Li Xiaohan thought he was going to try the wine, but the shopkeeper was not embarrassed at all. Here it is: The wine is wet at the bottom of the bowl. If it can be eaten, it is probably just a taste. There is no need to worry about whether you are drunk or not.

Forget it, forget it, this ancient wine was made from grain after all, so it was exquisite and expensive.

Li Xiaohan raised the bowl and carefully observed the ancient mellow wine. It was light yellow in color, clear and transparent, and smelled it. The wine tasted pure. Give it a try, and the taste and content were similar to modern sake.

No wonder people in ancient times could write hundreds of poems over wine without getting drunk, but the alcohol content of others who wrote this poem was not high.

Those drunkards in modern times always get drunk and talk about inheritance from ancestors. They just inherited the dross. Why not inherit it and write poems while drinking.

After tasting the mellow wine, the shopkeeper washed the dishes with white water for the two of them, and poured the good turbid wine at the bottom of the bowl for them.

I have tried this, and the difference is obvious. There are termite-like floating matter floating on the surface of this turbid wine, which is probably grain impurities, and the color is not bright enough. After taking a sip, the alcohol content has dropped significantly.

After tasting this wine, Li Xiaohan immediately wanted to buy that fine wine. However, her reason stopped her and she continued to try the ordinary sake.

Ordinary turbid wine has more impurities than good wine, is turbid in color, and has a very weak taste. I guess I just lied and said it was a bar.

After Li Xiaohan tried these three kinds of wine, he had some idea in his mind, "What are the prices of these three kinds of wine?"

"Ordinary dark liquor costs 8 cents per tael; good dark liquor costs 16 cents per tael; pure liquor costs 50 cents per tael." The shopkeeper quoted, "How much do you want to sell?"

"How can we take it away after selling it?" Li Xiaohan asked a stupid question.

"Did you bring your own wine flask? If you have, can you put it in your wine flask? If not, we have all kinds of jars here, but they cost extra. You can buy a whole jar, but we won't accept your jars. money."

The shopkeeper probably had a good temper, so he actually answered.

"Forget it, give me a bucket of the ordinary dark wine and good wine, and give me half a catty of the fine wine, and give me six half-catty empty wine jars."

This is really a lot. The most important thing is that Li Xiaohan actually bought a fine wine. The shopkeeper glanced at Li Xiandong in surprise. This father actually allowed his daughter to act like this.

Li Xiandong was not surprised. Today they sold another cotton comb for more than half a tael. Moreover, his daughter was taught by her own mother. Although the money spent was heartbreaking, it was nothing. .

When the shopkeeper saw that Li Xiandong had no objection, he was naturally not happy to make a business deal and happily went to bottle the wine.

In fact, it was not easy for Li Xiaohan. She originally thought that modern wine was expensive, but she didn't expect that ancient wine was even more expensive. Even ordinary turbid wine is more expensive than rice.

But it's normal to think about it. In ancient times, most wines were made from grains. Even the most common turbid wine was made from grains, so it was naturally more expensive than grains.

The shopkeeper finished dividing the wine and packed it.

Li Xiaohan watched for a moment. When the shopkeeper saw that they were carrying baskets, he thoughtfully surrounded them with thick straw so that they would not be afraid of colliding with each other and breaking the wine jars.

"This fine wine is expensive, so it's better for a girl to hold it. Ordinary wine costs 256 coins, good wine costs 512 coins, fine wine costs 400 coins, plus 2 coins for a jar, the total is 1,180 coins."

Li Xiaohan carefully took the wine. It was 400 yuan, so he naturally held it in his hands.

If this chili wine doesn't work, it will be a huge loss.

=== Chapter === 49

After buying wine, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong went to Renhetang. At this time, many spices were both incense and medicine, and they were bought in the medicine hall.

Today's waiter is still Master Xiaoshi. Speaking of which, Master Xiaoshi seems to have been on duty at the front shop since he didn't recognize the fresh eucommia thing.

It's obvious that Master Xiaoshi was not happy. He was cheerful every time he saw her. This time, he weighed the spices and asked curiously, "What's Miss Li buying spices for?"

Most spices are expensive commodities that are more expensive than wine.

"Make some braised food, mix some medicinal wine or something." Li Xiaohan replied.

Although the price of wine is expensive nowadays, drinking is still popular. There is no such big event as Li Xiandong moving into a new house for ordinary people, so he just manages to put a jar of wine on the table.

Drinking is popular, and medicinal wine is also popular, such as Jinpanlu, "water and ginger juice are used to make koji, and floating rice is used to brew it." "Shilin Guangji" also records that "only bran flour and polygonum leaves are used to mix it to fake its spicy flavor." 'Making wine.

However, this kind of medicinal wine is usually the secret recipe of a wealthy family or a professional winemaker. Master Xiaoshi never thought that Li Xiaohan could actually make wine, so he asked curiously, "You can also make wine? Where did you learn it?"

Li Xiaohan smiled, but he couldn't tell whether he was unsure, "How could I do that? I just heard someone say it, and I couldn't help but want to try it."

She just heard it from someone, and after hearing it, she was kindly invited to travel and see the brewing process. She even took it home with her to drink.

Li Xiaohan asked for money, but his friend refused to take it, so he got angry and said, "You look down on me by giving me money, and you don't treat me as a friend. In our chili wine, you are a confidant. Confidants don't talk about money."

Li Xiaohan had no choice but to go home and collect some of his own specialties to send over.

Master Xiaoshi couldn't tell the truth in what he said, so he could only seriously weigh the spices for her, which were just some commonly used cinnamon bark, cypress leaves, and fennel. They were all quite expensive, especially pepper. It was so expensive that it made Li Xiaohan's heart ache. He only dared to buy a few, really only a few.

This money is so expensive that even Li Xiandong's hands tremble. After all, he can still see the drinks, but spices, in Li Xiandong's opinion, are just a handful of leaves and bark. They are not suitable for eating or drinking. How can they be worth so much money? .

"Dad, don't feel bad. I bought it this time. It will last for a long time in the future." Li Xiaohan swore in his heart that he would use it bit by bit for three, four, five, six, seven or eight months. "Besides, I will help you in the future." You earn this money back."

Li Xiandong tried his best to put on a difficult smile, "It's okay, just use it."

Half a tael of silver went out.

The two of them walked out of the gate of Renhetang for the first time as if they were running away. It was really scary, as if they were giant beasts that could steal money.

After leaving Renhetang, Li Xiaohan asked, "Dad, do you want to buy some meat? There is no fresh meat at home. And my mother is pregnant, so I need to eat something delicious."

Li Xiaohan remembered that pregnant women seemed not to eat pickled products every day because they contained too much nitrite. However, in this era, it is true that no one can have all-you-can-eat marinated meat every day.

"Sure." Li Xiandong agreed quickly. He had been looking forward to it for so many years. No matter how much he saved, he couldn't save on this aspect.

So the two of them came to the meat stall again. Since they were late, the most popular suet and fat meat were naturally gone, and even the ribs were gone.

"Why are there even no bones?" Li Xiaohan asked.

In the past, wasn't this thing just a bone with no meat at all, so it wasn't popular?

"Girl, you don't know, the price of bones has now increased to 5 cents per pound. In the middle of winter, I am burning a kang at home. I am slowly simmering a pot of bone soup in the remaining heat until all the bone marrow oil comes out. , then add some mushrooms, radish, yam, etc., and take a warm sip. The taste is not too good, the whole person is full and warm. Now you have to come early in the morning to buy it We got the bones." The butcher explained, "How about you look at the others?"

Well, you know that good things will never be buried, and gold will always shine. It was a cold day, and she was just about to drink a bowl of such warm and oily bone soup.

"Then what else do you have? Let me take a look." Li Xiaohan inspected the meat stall. Well, there were a few pieces of lean meat, some offal, a pork belly, and two pig shanks with more bones and less meat. "Nothing good anymore." ah."

"Girl, you're late." The butcher said regretfully, "If you want to buy more, I'll give you a discount."

Hurry up, sell out, close the stall, go home and lie down.

"Then you must give me a better discount." Li Xiaohan confirmed again and again.

"become."

"Then give me that pig belly." Hey, pepper pork belly soup, here I come.

"And those two pig's knuckles." The famous Cantonese dish Pork Knuckles and Ginger, here I come.

"That fatty sausage." Stir-fried pork sausage, here I come.

What Li Xiaohan bought were scraps that were considered in this era, so they were naturally not as expensive as serious suet and fat.

One person said, "Two pig knuckles cost 48 coins, pork belly 19 coins, and fat intestines 11 coins, totaling 78 coins. Girl, I'll give you 77 coins."

"Okay." Li Xiaohan has bought meat several times, and he knows that it is really cheap for a penny. In the past, he only added some scraps as a topping.

Li Xiandong thought Li Xiaohan wanted to save money, so he asked hesitantly in a low voice, "Xiaohan, do you want to buy some serious meat?"

The serious meat Li Xiandong refers to is suet, pork belly, or spareribs with more meat and less bone.

Li Xiaohan's current body also likes to eat these big fats, but, "Dad, how can there be any good meat now?"

Besides, as long as you know how to cook, pork belly, pork knuckles, etc. are so delicious, no worse than big meat.

Li Xiandong looked around, oh, yes.

After buying the pork, the two went to the grain and oil grocery store to buy a jar of vinegar because the pig's trotters, ginger and ginger needed more vinegar before returning to the West Market.

At this time, the things of everyone in the West Market were almost sold out. Li Xiaohan saw Li Xinhe talking to Lin Heng at the bookstall next door.

That is to say, the two of them were both children, and the age difference was not big. They had just experienced another setback, and they both had a good impression of the other's character.

Li Xinhe felt that Lin Heng was a scholar, proud and unyielding;

Lin Heng also has a good impression of the Li family. Compared with his broken clan that oppresses orphans and widows, the Li family is like an ideal home, protecting the little girl in the family? Li Xinhe is called Qiang Clan.

Anyway, I don't know when the two started talking, and now it has developed to the point where Li Xinhe wrote the word "Fu" to Lin Heng, and the two of them criticized and chatted together.

I don't understand the things about scholars.

However, it is indeed a good thing for Li Xinhe to make friends with the original male protagonist. After all, Li Xinhe has no risk of entering the original male protagonist's backyard. Lin Heng, in addition to making Li Xiaohan complain about women, as the original male protagonist , In fact, they are very good to friends and teachers.

As for revenge against the clan, hey, it's not a shortcoming in Li Xiaohan's case, it's just a slap in the face.

Therefore, Brother Xinhe should date Lin Heng more often. Maybe with the luck of the original male lead, Brother Xinhe can become a scholar.

By the way, did Yuan Shuxin and Brother get admitted as a scholar?

My cousin jumped like this after he was admitted to the scholar examination. Is it because Brother Xinhe failed to pass the examination and no one suppressed him?

Li Xiaohan was thinking in his mind, but his men were not slow to put the things in the basket on his back. At the very least, the wine and vinegar must be put away and not broken.

"Xiandong, why did you buy so much meat? The New Year pig is about to be killed. Didn't you waste it? This is not serious and good meat. Have you been deceived?"

Li Guiqian on the side reminded him loudly that as his cousin in the next room, he built a house for Li Xiandong together and learned how to cut Eucommia ulmoides and make cotton combs from Li Xiandong. Li Guiqian believed that both in terms of blood relationship and emotional relationship, They should all remind their cousins.

If you are really cheated, you have to help roll up your sleeves and find justice.

Li Xiandong is very embarrassed. Can he say that he has not been cheated and does not want to quit?

"Uncle, I don't have a New Year pig in my family." Li Xiaohan replied quietly from the side, his little body was very pitiful.

Li Guiqian immediately thought that his cousin's family was divided and the two big fat pigs were not given to Li Xiandong at all.

This is a sore spot for me.

No wonder Li Xiandong bought so much pork, which was all worthless things like pork belly, pork trotters, and large intestines. This was to save money.

Li Guiqian made up his mind about his cousin who had been treated unfairly. Although he overcame the difficulties and lived a little better, he still saved money and only bought these cheap meats. In the end, he was yelled at and embarrassed. I am speechless...

Now it was Li Guiqian's turn to be embarrassed.

If Li Xiaohan said it, he just thinks too much.

However, "Uncle Guiqian, when will your family kill the New Year pig?"

I remember that every household will make a delicious meal after killing the New Year pig. Then the women in Pingshan Village will keep enough pork for their family for a year, and sell the rest.

You can buy fresh meat at home.

Moreover, women in Pingshan Village have a unique skill. With various pickling, drying, and smoking techniques, one pig can be eaten for a whole year. Traditional craftsmanship.

Li Xiaohan began to look forward to it.

"As the old saying goes, pickle vegetables in light snow and marinate meat in heavy snow. It's almost time. In November, my family will kill the New Year pig and marinate meat. Then you and your father will come to your uncle's house. You have to eat it all year round. A meal of pig rice, otherwise my stomach will not be full."

Li Guiqian sincerely invited, saying that this is also the custom of Pingshan Village.

In fact, the approximate origin of the custom is that if there is one pig a year, can we not count on eating meat on weekdays? We can only eat more when killing pigs.

It's not as good as eating pork until you're full. It just means that if you don't eat meat on this day, you are an extremely poor family and have no meat to eat all year round.

If you are hungry and have no oil or water, you will not be able to endure the tiring farm work, so it is also a taboo in rural areas.

"Sure, as long as you don't mind me eating too much, my dear uncle." Li Xiaohan responded generously and treated it as a leaving gift. When the time comes, he will come to the door with gifts.

However, doubts flashed in Li Xiaohan's mind, "pickled vegetables in light snow, pickled meat in heavy snow." Have the vegetables in his garden been pickled? The pickled food last time seemed to be the food sent by Dashan's family, right?

Because of the pork issue, Li Guiqian couldn't help but ask Li Xiandong why they bought so much wine and vinegar.

After more than an hour, the flow of people in West City gradually dispersed, and the Li family was also preparing to pack up and go home.

Business was really good today. Anyway, all the cotton combs were sold to the Qinggang. I thought that with so many people, they might not be able to sell much.

Inspired by Li Xiaohan's inspiration from the bamboo weavings and fruits they brought from home, the Li family began to name themselves Pingshan Village Dianthus.

Needless to say about the woven bamboo stools, they are all made of the same dianthus used in the cotton comb. A small bamboo stick is so durable, not to mention the woven bamboo stools.

What should I do if I can't relate to fruit? The clever ones said that the mountains and rivers behind Pingshan Village are very magical and nourish people and animals. The bamboo they grow is very good and the fruits they grow are very sweet.

I don't know if anyone believes it or not, but it has attracted people to look at it.

So, how lucky we are to have an ancestor who had the foresight to plant dianthus.

After getting money from selling things, everyone couldn't help but buy some things, such as oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar. The quality of the food in Fucheng was better than that of the village market, and the quantity was also large. Now it's freezing cold, so it's hard to come out. It was not an easy trip, so everyone had all these daily necessities.

On the way home, Li Xiaohan sat in the middle of an oxcart full of goods, holding her 400 yuan worth of wine in her arms. Directly in front of her were fragile jars and jars. Once the oxcart bumped, Li Xiaohan had to quickly stabilize these jars and jars. , to avoid falling and colliding.

As expected, everyone is riding the bullock cart.

The surrounding tribesmen kept their heads down and hurried on to avoid the cold wind entering their mouths and getting sick.

This environment is also extremely difficult, and it's really hard for everyone to make it easier.

It's just that it's so cold. In a few days, my mother will go to Fucheng for a follow-up consultation. I don't know if the ox cart of the clan leader's family will be available by then, so I'd better ask my father to ask the clan leader's family to borrow one.

I think of bullock carts, and then of cows, and of cows, and of next spring sowing. If I have a cow, I can save a lot of effort in plowing and preparing the land.

It's decided, next year's goal is to buy cattle. By then, you will be considered a person who owns a car and a house.

Li Xiaohan set goals for the coming year on the swaying bullock cart and swayed to the entrance of the village.

"Brother Xinhe, let's go."

"Yeah. Be careful not to fall." Li Xinhe responded while driving the bullock cart home.

The cold wind blew all the way, and no one was impatient to say hello on the road.

When she got home, Mrs. Wang had prepared hot ginger soup, and each person drank a large bowl of it, which made her whole body feel warm.

"The weather is getting colder and colder." Li Xiandong said.

"No."

"Mom, we are asking whether the vegetables in the backyard should be picked, dried, or pickled."

Li Xiaohan was reminded by Li Guiqian's words: "pickle vegetables in light snow, pickle meat in heavy snow".

"It's almost time. Our vegetables were planted late and haven't grown enough yet. I originally wanted to grow them longer, but now looking at the weather, they're all frozen."

"Then let's start in the afternoon. After dinner, I will help you pull out and wash the vegetables." Li Xiandong said.

"Okay, let's put everything down first, and then we'll talk after dinner. I've cooked everything, and it's just warm in the pot."

What the Li family ate today was radish pork ribs soup, with a lot of ginger in it, giving it a gingery flavor. This was done by Mrs. Wang because she was afraid that Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan would catch the cold when they went out.

The vegetables are rotten cabbage dumplings, which are actually egg batter as the base, add a little dried mushroom granules for seasoning, and then stew the cabbage until it is soft and melts in the mouth. The good thing about this dish is that I don't know when Li Xiandong and his daughter will come back, so they don't have to worry about letting it go soft, so it is delicious only when it is soft and chewy.

All three of them are clean and efficient people. After eating, Li Xiandong and Wang carried baskets on their backs and went to the backyard to pick vegetables, while Li Xiaohan processed the meat bought today. Wang still couldn't cook these uneaten offal.

For fresh pork belly, first wash the synovial fluid on it with clean water; then turn the pig belly over with clean water and wash it a second time; rub it evenly with salt for the third time to remove all the mucus. Wash it again with water; finally, boil the water and scald it, and scrape off the white towel-like layer that comes out of the scalding. The pork belly will be very clean.

After cleaning, stuff some pepper into the pork belly, add some red dates, put it in a clay pot and cook it slowly to bring out the flavor. It's a pity that there are no ginkgo or yam, it will be more delicious with these two.

After washing the pork belly, wash the large intestine. The large intestine is also notoriously difficult to wash and delicious, so Li Xiaohan could not avoid repeating the extremely troublesome cleaning process.

The last thing to wash is the pig's hand. Compared with the other two, the pig's hand is easier to wash. It's just that it's hard to pluck out the pig's hair.

After washing the pig's feet, wash the ginger and scrape off the old skin.

After Li Xiaohan washed these things, Wang and Li Xiandong had already brought back the turnips and spinach in two baskets.

Li Xiaohan continued to work in the kitchen, Mrs. Wang was arranging the turnips, and Li Xiandong was fetching water and washing vegetables.

Slowly, a faint aroma of broth wafted out of the kitchen, and then a burst of sour vinegar gradually spread, overwhelming all the smell.

Li Xiaohan put the soup and pig's trotters and ginger in the pot and wanted to come over to help, but Li Xiandong stopped her, "You don't want to make that chili wine, just do it and don't worry about us."

"Okay, Mom and Dad, let me get these things done first, and then I will help you after I finish them." Li Xiaohan responded.

There is no way to completely imitate the modern method of soaking in chili wine. Li Xiaohan can only simplify the process himself, wash the spices, dry them at low temperature in the same pot as the eucommia eucommia was fried before, and then add them to the wine in proportion to cook.

Because of fear of failure and consideration of spiciness, Li Xiaohan divided the two kinds of turbid wine into small jars and cooked them separately, marking them one by one.

As for the pure wine, Li Xiaohan thought about it and decided to wait for the effect of the dark wine to come out before trying again, otherwise it would fail and waste 400 Wen.

After soaking in the wine, Li Xiaohan thought for a while, chopped the dried chili peppers, and then patted the garlic. "Mom, don't cut all the turnips. Leave a few for me. I'll make some spicy dried turnips. ."

This is what Li Xiaohan just thought of. This kind of spicy dried radish needs to be dried half-dry, and then mixed with chili powder. It is crispy, fragrant and spicy, and is perfect for rice.

"Okay, how many do you want?" Wang didn't ask anything else, but directly asked Li Xiaohan how many he wanted to keep.

"Leave 6 with me." Li Xiaohan thought for a while and returned. I don't know if others can get used to it, but 6 sticks is enough.

After another half an hour, Li Xiaohan finished his work and came over to help, "Mom, our turnips and spinach are very tender. It's a pity to pickle them. It's not as good as more." Let's dry some vegetables, shall we? Yaowuerqiwuer bar chair"

Pickles and dried vegetables are two ways to preserve vegetables in winter.

Mrs. Wang thought for a while and said, "The vegetables that Dashan's family sent last time have been pickled and enough to last until next year. Let's start cooking."

Dried vegetables are a method of washing vegetables, drying them, and preserving them for winter consumption.

I think they can dry the cabbage in the sun until it is completely dry without adding salt. This extremely dry dried cabbage has the unique sweet aroma of the cabbage. It is excellent for cooking soup and porridge after being preserved. .

Dried radish can be dried in the sun until it is half dry, then stored with salt. It will be salty and crispy, and is a great choice when mixed with rice or porridge.

The mother and daughter discussed it and the matter was settled. Li Xiandong was the one who had no objections.

Fortunately, the Li family dug a well this time, which makes things easier.

And Li Xiandong chopped enough firewood. There is a fire in the kitchen and the warm well water is used to wash things. It's a bit cold, but it's still acceptable.

To go there, by the time Li Xiandong came back carrying water from the public well in the village with a gust of wind, the water would have been freezing cold.

The three members of the Li family were once again very satisfied with the well in their home.

After finishing this batch of winter vegetables, it was already time to have dinner.

The pepper pork belly soup had been turned off earlier, and now it was slightly piping hot, exuding a faint aroma of pepper. This aroma is different from the pure meat aroma of previous soups. It is very special. There is no fishy smell of pig belly that no one talks about.

When Li Xiaohan opened the lid of the pot, the special fragrance surged out, knocking out both Li Xiandong and Wang.

No wonder the pepper is so expensive, it turns out to have such a special and pleasant smell.

The three of them each filled a bowl of pork belly soup. The soup was white in color, with a few red dates floating in it. The red and white colors were particularly beautiful.

Take a sip, it's clear, moist and sweet, as if it's being gently moisturized.

It tastes really good.

The three of them took another sip in unison.

Then I picked up the pork belly, which was full of toughness, toughness and fragrance. For a moment, I felt that no pork I had eaten before could compare with it.

"Why is this so delicious?" Wang sighed.

"No." Li Xiandong agreed.

"This food is delicious, but it's troublesome to wash." Li Xiaohan sighed after taking a sip of the soup.

Everything has a price, and delicious food certainly requires careful preparation.

"It's really troublesome. I saw that you washed your hands several times and your hands are all red. I'll go see Dr. Zhang in a few days and I'll wash them later," Wang said.

Her hand began to listen to Dr. Zhang's words, and she raised it carefully for several days, and now it's basically fine.

She felt that she was ready, but she had not shown it to Dr. Zhang. Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan did not dare to let her move too much.

Li Xiaohan also thought it was amazing. Wang's hands were very red and swollen before, but after only a few days of treatment, they are almost invisible now.

I have heard a saying that people's physical fitness will be stronger if they have been living in places with difficult conditions.

For example, the quality of the African people in previous lives was very good in anti-virus. With the same bacterial infection, African people can be cured of the disease, but other outsiders still have to struggle for several days.

The above comes from the personal testimony of a classmate of Li Xiaohan who was unfortunately infected when he traveled to Africa.

Based on the experience of two lifetimes, Li Xiaohan feels that the people in this life are particularly resistant to disease, pain, and frost. In comparison, the people in the previous life are like flowers in a greenhouse.

After drinking a bowl of warm pepper pork belly soup and eating again, I feel very satisfied.

As for the pig's trotters and ginger that are still being cooked, forget it, my stomach is already full. The taste of the pig's trotters and ginger becomes more and more fragrant as it is cooked. I heard that in my last life, people in Guangdong Province ate a pot of pig's trotters and ginger all winter long. The more you eat, the older it becomes, and the more you eat, the more delicious it becomes.

The next morning, we had breakfast. Li Xiaohan and Wang were busy again. After washing and cutting the winter vegetables yesterday, the moisture on the surface had dried up overnight. At this time, only the parts that need to be salted should be mixed with salt, and those that need to be dried in the sun should be turned over.

It's all some meticulous work, but it's just a grind.

It wasn't until noon that I ate yesterday's pot of pig's feet and ginger.

The gelatin of the pig's trotters has been stewed, and is completely infiltrated with the acidity of the vinegar, the sweetness of the brown sugar, and the spiciness of the ginger. It tastes sweet and glutinous. The pig's trotters are very fat, but the slight acidity neutralizes the meat. Such fatness. It just feels satisfying.

"It's so delicious." Wang said with a satisfied look on her face.

"Yes." Li Xiandong couldn't agree more. He liked the pig's feet the most.

Li Xiaohan looked at his father like this and couldn't bear to tell him that this dish was originally eaten by women in Guangdong Province during confinement, and later evolved into a famous dish for women to supplement in autumn and winter. Most men claim that they don't like to eat it.

Li Xiaohan thinks that most men don't like to eat. Look how much they like to eat pig's feet, such as braised pig's feet, roasted pig's feet, plum pig's feet... but they just can't spare the time to eat confinement meal.

Forget it, let's not tell her father, so that her father can enjoy the food without any psychological burden!

In this way, while drying vegetables, making cotton combs, and brewing wine, before I knew it, it was time to go to Fucheng for a follow-up visit with Dr. Zhang.

"Well, let me see, your redness and swelling have gone away. Are your bones still hurting?" Doctor Zhang turned Wang's hand over and over and asked.

"It doesn't hurt anymore, it doesn't hurt anymore. Doctor Zhang, am I okay?" Wang asked anxiously.

"Well," Doctor Zhang lifted Wang's wrist to check the pulse carefully. After half a breath, his expression relaxed, "Okay. The abnormality of Lijie disease in your pulse has disappeared. Go back and eat well, sleep well and take good care of yourself." Eat as soon as the fetus is born." The doctor relaxed.

"Doctor, should I take another anti-fetal pill?"

"No need. Just finish what I prescribed last time. I won't give you any medicine this time. Let's go."

Doctor Zhang waved his hand, and just then another patient came up for consultation, and the Li family had no choice but to leave.

After paying the consultation fee, the family stood at the door of Renhe Hall. Time flies so fast. A few months ago, with their last glimmer of hope, they came to Renhetang carrying those Panax notoginseng plants on their backs. All they wanted in their hearts was to survive and build a house of their own. , cured Wang's disease and raised his head to be a human being.

Now, all hopes have come true . It was better than expected .

"It's all because of my mother's enlightenment, Xiaohan." Wang sighed, "I have to burn three sticks of incense for my mother when I get back, so that she can eat well and then bless us."

"Yes." Li Xiandong turned around and said, "Xiaohan, do you want some pig's feet and ginger? Buy two more? Do you want your favorite pork ribs?"

"Yes." Li Xiaohan responded readily. It's autumn and winter, and it's time to take supplements.

Just like that, December 12th arrived in the blink of an eye, the day of pig killing at Li Xian's house.

Mrs. Zhao came over yesterday and told them to go over today, stop cooking, and eat at their place.

Li Xiandong and Wang could not refuse, so they had no choice but to agree. Now that the two families are extremely close, there is no need to refuse again and again.

Early in the morning, Li Xiaohan got up, took an empty bowl and went to the wing to check out her chili wine. First, pour the bottom of a bowl. The worst kind of ordinary turbid wine may be due to the addition of ingredients. The color of the brewed wine becomes darker and the taste becomes more complex.

Li Xiaohan raised the wine bowl and smelled it carefully, looked at the color carefully, and finally took a sip to taste the taste.

"How's it going?" Li Xiandong asked Li Xiaohan, who seemed to be tasting wine.

Li Xiaohan squinted his eyes to savor the effort, and then said, "Dad, would you like to try it yourself?"

Li Xiandong really gave it a try. As soon as the wine was in his mouth, Li Xiandong's already big eyes lit up slightly.

"Dad, I want to bring a small jar to your uncle's house to pay for the meal."

The chili localization plan has been implemented.

=== Chapter === 50

When the three members of the Li family arrived at Li Shengyi's house, Li Guiqian had already selected the pig, and several men were working together to lift the big fat pig to a sturdy old desk.

"Second uncle, we are here." Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "Excuse me, I will give you a small jar of wine. I brewed it myself. You can try it."

Li Xiaohan had already taken it from Li Xiandong, and Li Shengyi had a good sip of wine, so this gift was perfect.

Li Xiaohan still remembers that her family had no one to help build a house, so she ran over to find her second uncle, hoping that he would help her father once, but no one in the second uncle's family was there, so she could only hurriedly I asked my cousin to leave a message. At that time, I didn't dare to be sure, but the next day, my second uncle showed up at the Li family homestead with his two sons and three grandsons.

This friendship at that time needs to be remembered.

Although many things happened later, including taking Li Shengyi and his family to harvest eucommia, and later introducing fruit pickers, cotton combs, and digging wells, etc., the comings and goings are not clear-cut. .

However, whether it is Li Xiaohan, Li Xiandong or Wang, they all remember this friendship that provided help in times of need.

Because Li Shengyi is not young anymore, most of the affairs of Li Shengyi's family are now handled by his eldest son Li Guiqian. Li Shengyi has already retreated to the back, and only steps forward to take the initiative when big things happen. , the same is true at this moment.

In the Li family's mansion, they were busy preparing to kill pigs and boil water. Li Shengyi sat on a bamboo stool and swayed. The bamboo stool turned dark brown over time and developed a light oily sheen.

Li Xiaohan's family came forward to say hello. Li Shengyi just sat up, took the jar of wine from Li Xiaohan's hand, and said, "Come here as soon as you come. You are so young, so you are so polite. You are young, Killing a pig is very evil. Follow your elder sister to the side room and sit for a while. Then come out after killing the pig. Big Ya, come out and take your sister Xiaohan in."

It is a custom in Pingshan Village that young children should not watch pigs being killed because they are very evil and may cause collisions. Li Xiaohan never expected that he was still among the younger ones.

After Guo saw that Li Shengyi had finished speaking, he asked Da Ya's cousin to come out of the wing and said first, "Grandpa, how many times have you told me to call me Hehua. Sister Xiaohan, come in with me. Let's not go in there." here."

The cousin called Da Ya, no, He Hua was the cousin who helped Li Xiaohan talk that day. She was tall, only a little shorter than Li Xiaohan, and her face was a bit dark, but her features were good and she looked good. Very hearty.

Li Hehua is the youngest daughter of Queen Li Gui and the only daughter of the Li family. Therefore, she is extremely favored and is not polite to her grandfather Li Shengyi.

"I know, little lotus girl, go in. Don't be scared out of your wits, little girl." Li Shengyi said leisurely.

The corner of He Hua's mouth curled up and she said unconvinced, "I'm not afraid at all." However, she still took Li Xiaohan's hand and went to the east wing.

The layout of Li Shengyi's house is very similar to that of Li Shengli's house. They both have a large hall behind the opposite door, three main rooms on the left and right, and four wing rooms on the east and west. Li Hehua lives in the first room in the east wing.

Li Xiaohan followed Li Hehua away. Li Xiandong and Wang were still standing there. Li Xiaohan only heard Li Shengyi say very casually, "Xiandong, please take your wife over there to help. I don't need you here."

"Yes, second uncle."

Li Xiaohan heard what his father said and turned around to see that his father had turned around to help hold down the pig. Wang's reaction was a step slower than Li Xiandong's and walked quickly to the kitchen.

"Sister Xiaohan, come here." Li Hehua led Li Xiaohan into the wing and closed the door, leaving a crack in the door. Li Hehua turned around and looked out.

There were two little boys of five or six years old in the room, squatting tightly under Li Hehua, leaning against the crack in the door and looking out.

Li Xiaohan was so shocked that he was speechless for a moment.

Perhaps her surprised expression was too obvious, so the slightly older boy below raised his head and glared at her, with a very obvious warning.

"Brother Dou, don't be rude to Aunt Xiaohan." Li Hehua scolded the little boy named Brother Dou, and then turned around with great hesitation and embarrassment, "Sister Xiaohan, are you afraid of killing pigs?"

Damn it, if Sister Xiaohan is afraid of killing the pig, wouldn't she have to sit with Sister Xiaohan and not peek at the slaughter of the pig?

As soon as Li Hehua finished speaking, Brother Dou's eyes widened with obvious contempt, as if to say: No, it's too timid for such a big person to be afraid of killing pigs.

Even the smaller boy below raised his head to look at her, his eyes were exactly the same as Brother Dou's.

Li Xiaohan was not convinced. How could she be discriminated against by two five or six-year-old brats? He immediately said, "No way, how could I be afraid of killing pigs?"

In order to prove that he was telling the truth, Li Xiaohan immediately walked to the other side of Li Hehua and looked outside.

As a result, the four-person group Peeping and Killing Pigs was established.

Outside the door, not far from the well, Li Guiqian and his men had tied up the fat pig with two finger-thick hemp ropes. Then Li Guihou, Li Jiajin, Li Jiayin, and Li Jiacai held down the pig's four legs respectively. Li Guiqian began to use Use a straw brush to collect water in the basin and scrub the pig clean.

The weather was cold and the water was cold. The pig screamed and struggled desperately. The person holding the pig began to walk, and the muscles under the thin shirt began to swell. Killing pigs can easily make clothes wet, so everyone wears thin clothes in cold weather.

Li Xiandong wanted to take off his clothes to help, but Li Guiqian quickly stopped him, "Xiandong, don't get your clothes wet. You can help us carry water."

Li Xiaohan saw that his second uncle's grandfather also had a well drilled in his house, and bricks were built around it. There was probably a water channel, and he probably sold Eucommia ulmoides for a lot of money.

However, there were several men in the second uncle's family. I heard that two men were paired with a female family member in a team, so the whole family divided into several teams to search for Eucommia bark. Li Xiaohan had to write a word of "faith" about this way of running a family.

He could only think about it for a moment, but after a while, Li Guiqian had already cleaned the pig. Li Shengyi walked around the pig and shouted, "Boss, wife, give me the jar of wine that Xiaohan gave me and pour me a bowl of wine."

Li Xiaohan opened his eyes slightly, did he drink it so quickly? Although she originally wanted this effect.

Li Xiandong in front said with a little hesitation, "Second uncle, that wine was brewed by Xiao Han again. You may not be used to it."

At this important moment, why not go back to the original bar?

"Have you never drank?" Li Shengyi asked with a frown.

"I drank."

"How's it going?"

"fine."

"That's it. Your temperament is just not bold enough."

Li Shengyi ignored Li Xiandong, picked up the wine jar, poured half a bowl, raised his head, took a big gulp, and sprayed it onto the ground.

This sip of wine is not for drinking, it is the wine that will send pigs to hell.

This ritual is normal every year. Unexpectedly, this time after Li Shengyi sprayed the wine, he coughed several times. After coughing, he glared at Li Xiandong several times.

Li Xiandong lowered his head in timidity. He had already reminded him.

Unexpectedly, after Li Shengyi glared at Li Xiandong, he raised the bowl and drank all the wine in the bowl. His face turned extremely red and he shouted, "Okay!"

Then he picked up the butcher's knife and got into a stance, just right, blocking the sight of Li Xiaohan and others.

All I heard was a very loud and unpleasant pig cry, and then four pig feet shook violently, but they were held down by the people next to them.

In short, at this moment, the old saying screams like a slaughtered pig, which is an extremely appropriate description.

"It's always like this. My grandfather just blocks it every year." Li Hehua muttered.

The two Dou brothers and little Dou Ding also pretended to be adults and sighed, "Oh, we are getting tired of it. We are not the three-year-old kids anymore."

Li Xiaohan smiled and said, "How old are you?"

"I'm six years old."

"I'm five years old."

Hahaha.

The two little cubs couldn't hear Li Xiaohan's inner laughter, so they just climbed onto the kang with their heads hanging down.

Li Xiaohan asked again, "Don't you want to read it?"

The two little Douding didn't want to talk anymore, but Li Hehua explained, "There's nothing interesting, just wait for the pig's blood to run out. When the pig's blood is gone, my aunt will come and ask us to go out."

"Did my second uncle know that we were peeking and specifically blocked us?" Li Xiaohan guessed in his mind and asked.

"Definitely." Li Hehua responded, "Brother Dou, forget it, why can't I watch it?"

"Auntie, you can't do this, you are with us." Brother Dou protested.

"It turns out that great-grandfather did it on purpose. No wonder, no wonder, I can't see it every year." The other little baby was not led astray, but he suddenly realized it.

"Brother Gu, you are right, my grandfather is too cunning." Brother Dou said angrily.

So Li Xiaohan knew that the other child was named Gua Geer, but she remembered that there should be another baby, so she asked, "Where is your brother?"

"You mean Brother Cai? He is too young and can't even hear the cries of pigs being killed. My mother took him to the backyard." Brother Dou replied.

"Brother Cai is indeed too young. He is only 3 years old. He should be in the backyard." Gua Guoer said seriously.

"yes."

The two little brats met and talked about their worries about Brother Cai, and their dissatisfaction with their great-grandfather, etc., which made Li Xiaohan almost unable to hold back his laughter.

"Sister Xiaohan, please ignore them. Come and sit." Li Hehua asked Li Xiaohan to sit on the kang.

The host said so, and Li Xiaohan had to give him this face no matter what.

Li Hehua's kang is covered with coarse cloth woven by himself, but it looks clean and tidy. There are not many things in the house, but they are arranged neatly and orderly, which makes people feel good at first sight.

Li Xiaohan sat on the kang and saw Li Hehua staring at his face. Li Xiaohan almost thought that there was something on his face, but unexpectedly Li Hehua asked curiously, "Sister Xiaohan, why have you become so white?" So beautiful? Last time I saw you, you were almost the same as me."

It turns out that whitening has been a problem for girls since ancient times.

Li Xiaohan thought for a while and said: "Maybe it's because I haven't worked outside much in the past few months and haven't been exposed to the sun much."

Unexpectedly, Li Hehua became even more frustrated after hearing this, "I don't show off much. I help at home every day. Why am I not white at all?"

Li Xiaohan is very fond of Li Hehua. He didn't have much contact with her before, but since awakening his memory, he has met Li Hehua twice. The first time, Li Hehua was very reliable in helping her bring the news. This time, Li Hehua is so interesting. , so Li Xiaohan comforted, "You look pretty like this."

Although Li Hehua looks a bit dark, she has good facial features and is cheerful and cheerful, which makes people quite fond of her just by looking at her.

"I know I'm pretty, but I look better if I'm whiter."

As soon as these words came out, Li Xiaohan was so shocked that he almost couldn't hold himself back. In this era, there is actually a girl who can say that she is good-looking and admit her beauty so calmly and calmly.

"Sister Xiaohan, do you think I'm telling lies? Do you think I'm not good-looking?" Li Hehua asked displeasedly. Her attitude seems to be saying, you really have no vision.

"No, I think you are really good-looking, but I was surprised when you said it." To treat such a girl, only telling the truth is the greatest respect.

"Sister Xiaohan, you are more discerning than sister Lanhua." Li Hehua suddenly regarded Li Xiaohan as a confidant, "She dare not admit that I am good-looking, and she always says that she is prettier when she is white."

Li Xiaohan almost forgot about this person if he didn't mention Li Hehua. Li Lanhua, Li Xiaohan's cousin and Li Xianxi's eldest daughter, looks very similar to Mrs. Chen, so she has always been favored by Mrs. Chen. She spends all day spinning and weaving in the tool room, which makes her look pretty white.

"She has no vision, please ignore her."

"No, I just can't get angry." Li Hehua is a 12-year-old girl after all.

Li Xiaohan thought for a while and said, "If you want to be white, you can try drinking goat's milk. You can be white and grow taller."

Li Xiaohan liked this girl and couldn't help but think about her. People in this era tend to get married and have children early. Girls get pregnant too early and have narrow pelvises, which makes it easy for them to have dystocia. Drinking milk can not only whiten your skin, but most importantly, the calcium in it can help you grow taller.

Li Xiaohan cannot change his worldly thoughts, but if he can change a little bit with his limited ability, even if he only grows one centimeter taller, at some point in the future, this extra centimeter will be more. A chance of safety.

"Really?" Li Hehua said in surprise.

"Really. You see, I drink goat's milk every day and don't go out to bask in the sun. That's why I look so white."

"Then I'll ask my dad to buy me a milk-producing sheep. But unfortunately it's winter now, so I might not be able to find one. Cows and sheep rarely give birth to babies in winter."

At this time, livestock are precious assets. Production in cold weather can easily cause diseases. Therefore, most farmers will try to control the breeding time and stagger production in winter.

"My family bought it from the mutton Chen's house in Fucheng. His family raises sheep for slaughter, and they always give birth to lambs in batches. I don't know if they still have sheep that produce milk. You can ask your father to ask. If there is really no more, you can come to my house to drink it before next spring. I have it at home, and you can add a share."

The sheep in Li Xiaohan's family are quite capable of producing milk, probably because they have always been well fed in the Li family. The lamb we bought together in the past was small, so we gave a portion to the little lamb. Now that the lamb is older, we can give a portion to Li Hehua.

"Really? Then let me thank you first. But, I have nothing to give you?" Li Hehua said distressedly. She knew that the cousin's family in the next room was getting better, and cousin Li Xiaohan was also very happy. Smart, but she can't accept other people's things in vain.

"Just a few bowls of goat's milk, what do you want? If you feel bad, bring me some coriander sticks, dried straw, etc. The sheep like to eat this. My family has just been divided, and there are not many of these things. ."

"That's okay, I have a lot at home." Li Hehua said happily, "I heard that Sister Xiaohan can fry Eucommia ulmoides, and you also want to come out to pick fruit utensils and cotton combs. You are so smart. I have been looking for it. You are playing, but you have no chance. My mother said that you are a person who does big things, so she asked me not to disturb you. Sister Xiaohan, I won't disturb you, right?"

"Of course I won't disturb you. I'll be at home all day long, pasting shoe soles, combing cotton, and drying vegetables. If you're not bored, come over and play with me, and we'll work together."

"Okay, I will go to you every day from now on, drink goat's milk, and work together." Li Hehua is really a generous and cheerful little girl, and she agreed immediately.

The two began to chat about how to dry vegetables and how to paste the soles of shoes. When they were forgetful, Mrs. Zhao came over and shouted outside the door, "Lotus, Xiaohan, is out."

"Come on, the blood must have been drained. Let's go out and see how the pork is divided." Li Hehua straightened up and stood up from the kang. Brother Dou and Brother Gua had already ran over to open the door. These two little short legs can run quite fast.

When he went outside, he saw that the pig had been bled to death and could no longer die. Li Shengyi handed the butcher knife to Li Guiqian. He leisurely returned to his bamboo stool and drank a small drink. liquor.

The grandsons all have wives to take care of, and the great-grandsons can run and jump. If it weren't for the fact that Li Guiqian and Li Guihou were too weak to do the job, and had to work like an old man to kill pigs, he would have retired early to enjoy the blessings. .

One generation is not as good as the other.

Li Shengyi looked away from his two sons who were cutting up the pork and sighed in his heart.

He glanced at Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua who were watching on the side, and narrowed his eyes slightly. This little girl from Xian Dong's family has become more and more spiritual as she gets older, and now she even knows how to make wine.

Li Shengyi took another sip of wine.

This wine is really flavorful, spicy and punchy.

In the past, when I drank the wine, it was like drinking plain water. But when I drank this wine, the burning energy came out everywhere. After I drank it, a wave of warmth came straight up.

Li Xiaohan didn't know that his chili wine had received such a high evaluation. After all, his father described it in two words, "delicious." If asked about his other feelings, he couldn't tell.

At this moment, Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua were standing together, watching the pig killing with relish. In the past, Li Shengli hired someone to kill a pig. Wang and Li Xiaohan were so busy making hot water and cleaning the house that they had no time to sit around and watch the pig being slaughtered.

Now watching Li Shengyi's family slaughter pigs, it seems a bit interesting.

Mrs. Zhao led her sister-in-law and daughter-in-law to move the entire basin of pig blood to another place, then rolled out a very large water tank, poured buckets of hot water into it, and poured it into the water. The water tank was half full.

Li Guiqian led the people and tied up the pig's hind legs, and put a pole through it. Li Guiqian and Li Guihou were on each side. The others held hands and shouted "harder" in unison, and the pig was lifted off the stool. , move it to the top of the water tank.

Then Li Guiqian and Li Guihou slowly squatted down, and the whole pig was slowly immersed in the hot water. Li Jiajin and Li Jiayin picked up the water ladle and poured ladle after ladle of hot water on the pig. This is scalding pig hair.

The man was scalding the pig's hair, and Mrs. Zhao led her daughter-in-law to spread the washed banana leaves on the floor. After the pig's hair was ironed, Li Guiqian and others put the pig on the banana leaves.

After scalding the pig's hair, it's time to shave the pig's hair, and then prepare to disembowel the pig and divide the pork.

At this time, Li Shengyi, who was drinking at the side, spoke up, "Your Majesty, please show Xiandong a lesson. He, I myself, don't know how to kill pigs. I'm so cowardly that even one or two of my own sons can't." ."

The only one who could scold Li Shengli like this was Li Shengyi.

Li Xiaohan suddenly realized why his grandfather had paid people to kill pigs in previous years instead of his second uncle.

I guess I have been scolded by my second uncle many times in the past, and how could my father and the others have a tacit understanding with my uncle and the others? It would be difficult for my second uncle to go over to help kill pigs, and he would have to bring all his sons and grandsons with him. Without this reason.

And no wonder my grandfather is afraid of his second uncle. There is a second brother who kills pigs every year and often scolds you. You will probably be a coward even if you are a younger brother.

Li Xiaohan secretly laughed in her heart. For the sake of filial piety and reputation, unless her grandfather suddenly went crazy, his whole family would not be able to do anything about his grandfather. However, he was inexplicably happy to have his second uncle pressuring his grandfather.

Li Xiandong was assigned to learn how to kill pigs with Li Guiqian. He was so happy that he took off his cotton-padded clothes and took Li Guiqian's place.

I saw Li Guiqian holding a pig-killing knife, pointing at the bleeding hole in front of the pig's head, and said, "Xiandong, look at it, don't touch the bone at this position, and use your strength to cut it when the time comes. .Come, come hold the knife and feel it. Jin, Jiayin, you guys, the younger ones, come too."

So Li Xiandong and his nephews all reached up to feel the position and strength. After feeling it, Li Guiqian continued, "The force should be steady and smooth, but not too deep. If it is too deep, the ribs will get stuck in the front and the internal organs will be easily scratched in the back."

Li Xiandong and a group of juniors next to him, Li Jiajin and Li Jiayin, nodded when they heard it, and everyone went up together to take turns.

Just like this, I finally broke open the pork, took out the bones, cut off the four legs, and divided each large piece of meat into pieces. Men have already done most of the work, and women have begun to take part.

"Xiaohan, Hehua, you two come here and start fighting." Ms. Zhao shouted.

She is about to become a grown-up girl, and she must learn how to make a living by curing, frying, and stocking up on meat, otherwise her life will be difficult in the future.

Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua passed by in a hurry, while Li Guiqian and others cleaned themselves up. After all, they were stained with a lot of water and sweated a lot, so they had to change their clothes.

After changing clothes and coming out, Li Guiqian led the people to Li Shengyi and said, "Dad, give me a sip of your wine."

After all, after killing such a big guy and cutting it up, the energy in my heart was over, and I felt a little weak. It was best to drink some wine to strengthen my courage.

"Too cowardly, you're such a beast, what are you afraid of?" Li Shengyi cursed, but still handed over the bowl of wine in his hand, "Drink a little less, just one sip is enough. This is Xiaohan's filial piety to me."

Li Guiqian was not annoyed at all. His father was like this. He had to come back every year. He was thick-skinned and not sad.

Besides, he's not a professional butcher of pigs, so it's normal to be respectful. It's just that when his father gets old, he may really need to hire a specialized butcher to kill pigs.

Li Guiqian thought, picked up the bowl of wine and drank it.

"Cough." He was about to cough out.

"Swallow it." Li Shengyi glared and shouted angrily. Under the prestige, Li Guiqian swallowed it hard, but after swallowing, he continued to cough and his face turned red.

Li Guihou learned his brother's lesson and only took a small sip. The Li family's gold, silver, and wealth also took a small sip. After they came to their senses, they all felt regretful in their hearts. I only drank that little bit, which was not enough.

Only Li Xiandong, who already knew this wine, took a big sip.

Now, even Li Shengyi stared at him. What, your daughter didn't make this wine? Why don't you be more sensible? Take a sip. No, just go home and drink it yourself. Why are you still following me? They rob.

Li Xiandong smiled naively, "This wine is not brewed enough, Xiaohan won't let me drink more."

Li Xiaohan: No, I'm just afraid that if you drink it for the first time, it will be troublesome if your stomach doesn't adapt. After all, this chili wine has a bit of 1+12 power .

After Li Xiandong finished speaking, disappointment rose in everyone's hearts. It's not soaked very much. I think it's very precious, so it's hard to ask for it.

If I had known earlier, I should have drank more.

So he turned around and looked eagerly at the bottom of Li Shengyi's bowl.

Li Shengyi didn't care about the lives of his children and grandchildren. He raised his head and drank every drop of the wine at the bottom of the bowl. Then he held an empty bowl and said seriously to Li Xiandong, "Xiandong, I have to remind you that your family will be separated this year." Now, you are a junior, you have to come over and give me a New Year's gift, you know? Don't miss it. I don't want anything else, so give me another jar of this wine."

"Okay, second uncle." Li Xiandong responded readily.

After hearing this, Li Shengyi lay back on his bamboo stool and savored the lingering power of the wine. It was really that waves of heat were coming out from the inside.

None of the rest of the people were qualified to let Li Xiandong give them a New Year's gift. They couldn't speak, so they had no choice but to roast the pig's head, break the bones, and chop pine branches to prepare the bacon.

On Li Xiaohan's side, under the leadership of Zhao, preparations were in full swing.

"First clean and cut out the pig offal such as pig liver, pig lung, and pig heart. Now cook the soup. At noon, add pork blood sausage, lean meat, and various ingredients. This is today's noon pig offal. It's time for dinner."

"In the afternoon, after the men took out the pig's head, they made soup with the pig's skull and various bones. That was the bone meal for the evening. Do you understand?"

Mrs. Zhao looked around at the young wives and girls and taught.

Li Shengyi's daughter-in-law and Zhao's mother-in-law have passed away. Now Zhao is the head of the family, and it is her responsibility to teach others.

Everyone around him, including the Wang family who came to steal the teacher, all nodded.

Seeing everyone nodding, Mrs. Zhao began to assign tasks, including chopping ginger, garlic, preparing green salt and various ingredients, washing pork offal, cutting meat into slices, cutting oil, washing casings, and cooking. Hot pot...

With more people working faster, Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua were only assigned to do the initial work, which was to follow Zhao to check for leaks and fill in the gaps at any time.

Soon, all kinds of things were washed and prepared. The hot water was boiled, ginger was thrown in, slices of pork liver, lungs, and pig heart were thrown in, and the whole pig blood sausage was thrown in and taken out. slice.

It's ready for lunch.

There were a lot of people and it was cold, so we simply didn't put a basin on the table and served it. Each person had a clay bowl and a small bamboo stool, gathered in a circle around the big pot, and started eating directly.

Li Xiaohan originally thought that the pork offal soup cooked with many leftovers would have a very complicated taste, but it didn't taste like it at all. In one word, it was fresh and sweet.

Take a sip of the soup. Pure grain-fed local pigs are cooked fresh. The fresh and sweet taste unique to meat fills the entire mouth. Li Xiaohan saw that Zhao even only put a little ginger, so this is completely the original flavor of pork. .

The freshness and sweetness slide down the throat easily and enter the stomach, with a little aftertaste, not strong, but it makes people linger.

Li Xiaohan quickly took another sip.

It tastes so good.

When I took another bite of meat, I happened to catch the pig lungs. The pig lungs were smooth and tender, and the pig lung tubes were a little bit tough and crispy, making a squeaking sound when biting. Li Xiaohan bit hard, hehe.

Suddenly I felt like a child.

"Mom, I want to eat pig lungs too." Brother Dou was eating while turning the bowl around. He was smart and felt that the new Xiaohan Gugu was having a great time, so he wanted it too.

"Don't be picky and make trouble. It's all delicious. Eat it quickly." Ma scolded, but she carefully took out a piece of pig lung from her own bowl and put it into Brother Dou's bowl.

Hehe, Brother Dou smiled with his dark little face, imitating Li Xiaohan and biting the food with a squeaking sound.

"Brother Dou, come to daddy." Brother Dou's father, Li Jiajin, shouted.

Brother Dou rushed to his father's side holding his bowl. As expected, Li Jiajin also picked out two pieces of pig lungs from his bowl and gave them to Brother Dou, and warned him, "Don't drop it. Eat."

"Yeah. Dad.

Brother Dou deserved to be happy. The children couldn't sit still and ran all over the place. Brother Gua saw that Brother Dou was having fun eating, so he shouted that he wanted to eat too, so Han and Li Jiayin also started to fish from their own bowls. Pig lungs.

Li Xiaohan was so embarrassed that he just lowered his head and ate hard.

Li Guiqian's generation didn't care about these little incidents, and everyone took care of their own children.

However, Li Xiaohan discovered that when all the adults drank soup and meat, they somewhat avoided pig lungs. In the remaining big pot, there were obviously more pig lungs than others.

Only Zhao, when fishing for Li Xiaohan, didn't pick at all, the content of the pig's lungs was obviously high.

Is this the same treatment as Brother Dou and Brother Gua? Li Xiaohan was surprised, but he also wanted to eat pork liver, pig heart... I wanted to try all kinds of them.

Forget it, pig lungs are quite delicious, and Li Xiaohan made a crunching sound when he bit into them.

After lunch, we started having various marinated and fried meats in the afternoon.

Cut the lard into mahjong-sized pieces, then put it into the pot to fry the lard.

The aroma of the oil became stronger, the lard fat in the pot gradually began to curl, the color began to turn golden, and more and more oil was produced.

When it was finally done, Mrs. Zhao carefully fished out the lard with a spoon, put it into a jar, and finally added a handful of salt to preserve it.

The pork dregs in the pot are scooped up and put away. These oily dregs are paired with vegetables, which can be considered a big dish on weekdays.

Brother Dou and Brother Gua each shared a small bowl of lard residue and were directed to leave the vicinity of the oil pan. It would not be a joke to be burned if they were splashed. Another large bowl was served, and everyone in the kitchen tried it, and finally the remaining half was taken out to the men busy outside.

Once this pot of lard is boiled, there is a second pot. In the second pot, the oil was not removed, only the meat residue was taken out, and then while the oil in the pot was hot, the pork skin began to be fried.

The pork skin, which was cut into palm-sized pieces in the morning and thoroughly cooked, was drained of water and fried little by little over low heat until it gradually swelled and became fluffy and white.

It's a bit like shrimp skin fries. After frying, Brother Dou and Brother Gua came over with bowls. It seems that he has been staring at the kitchen.

As usual, everyone breaks off a small piece of the finished product to try.

Hey, fried shrimp crackers.

After frying the skin, start frying the meat. The best pork is cut into fist-sized pieces, smeared with salt, and then fried in a pan until the skin is golden and the meat is golden, then put into a jar and covered with oil. This is oil-based meat. As long as the oil completely covers the meat, it can be eaten for a year without going bad.

After frying the meat in oil, there was less room to use the oil pan, so we started ordering pine branches and eucommia leaves to smoke bacon, bacon ribs, etc.

The whole family has been busy all day and has completed most of the work, and it's time for the bone meal in the evening.

If the pork offal meal at noon is fresh and sweet, then the bone meal in the evening is rich and fragrant.

Pig skulls, fan bones, etc. are chopped into pieces, boiled in a pot, and mushrooms and other ingredients are added to create a rich and fragrant dish.

After dinner, Li Xiaohan's family of three went home under the moonlight and stars.

"Dad, Mom, the pig-killing feast at my second uncle's house was really lively." Li Xiaohan couldn't help but sigh.

"No." Li Xiandong and Wang nodded in agreement. I ate really delicious food today and gained a lot of knowledge.

In comparison, now that I think of the New Year Pig Feast at my old house, I feel that it lacks a little flavor.

If you think about it carefully, it lacks the human touch and the homely touch.

Starting from Li Shengyi's house, many families in the village began to kill New Year pigs. Li Xiaohan visited several houses with interest at first, but later found that everyone was a little respectful of him, so he didn't want to go. .

However, the New Year Pig Banquet is really fun and delicious, and each family has its own taste. After Li Xiaohan didn't go, Li Xiandong went there often. Li Xiaohan had reason to suspect that his father also wanted to make a pig for the New Year next year.

When the New Year pig is killed, Li Xiaohan's family often has pork to eat. After all, not all families are like Li Shengyi's family, who are so wealthy that they can eat a whole pig by themselves.

Li Xiandong, who went out to eat the New Year Pig Feast, often came back with pork, which made him more popular in the village. After all, he was a big customer in the village.

After eating enough and getting enough rest, and growing rapidly in age, Li Xiaohan felt bone growth pains at night.

Two days ago, I checked my height on the threshold and found that I was about an inch taller than the director of the marking department a few months ago. My current height is estimated to be almost 1.55 meters.

On December 14th, it was slightly cold.

It is Li Xiaohan's birthday in this life and also in his previous life.

The weather was still very good in the morning, with clear skies and clear clouds. After the continuous snow in the past few days, it started to clear up greatly today, and even the sun rarely came out.

When she got up early in the morning, Wang made longevity noodles for Li Xiaohan. The fragrant pork bone soup was used as the base. The slightly yellow hand-rolled noodles were made very thin and continuous, with two eggs specially placed on them. According to Li Xiaohan's taste, the yolk of the egg will flow out when you bite it.

Today is Li Xiaohan's home court. The weather is cold and there is nothing to go out. The farm work has been finished. Panax notoginseng has been covered by falling snow. Cotton has been combed and Qinggang has been harvesting. I heard that he The business of our store in Fucheng is very good. People in the village can now make money by making cotton combs on the kang at home. They are not affected by wind and rain, and they are even more grateful to Li Xiaohan and his family.

Li Xiaohan said that he had nothing urgent to do, so he decided to give himself a delicious meal.

Let's put together a simple version of birthday cake, and put together a spicy spicy pot. As for the hot pot, there is no soul without butter, so I gave up as I can't realize the freedom of butter for the time being.

During this period of time, Li Xiaohan has quickly adjusted his tolerance to chili peppers from mild to medium spicy back to the strong spicy in his previous life. However, Li Xiandong and Wang at home have not adapted to it, so Li Xiaohan restrains himself every day. Himself , but today is not her birthday.

Li Xiaohan wanted to celebrate his birthday like this, so Li Xiandong and the Wang family were naturally suitable. Li Xiandong used a pair of chopsticks to beat eggs, and Wang was busy washing and cutting.

However, there was something wrong with the weather this day. The sun rarely came out in the morning, but it disappeared for most of the day. As it got closer to noon, the sky became darker and darker, and now there was a cold wind.

The cold wind outside the house gradually started to howl like a ghost. The treetops were blown this way and that, and dark clouds pressed over the city, making it almost impossible to see the light.

Li Xiandong started to go out and look around, but the weather was very bad without even looking around.

Unexpectedly, after a while, something worse happened. There was a crackling sound on the roof, and hailstones half as big as a baby's fist fell.

Fortunately, it only fell for a short while and then stopped, but the sky was still extremely dark.

The three Li family members who were busy in the kitchen stopped one after another and looked at each other.

Li Xiandong couldn't sit still anymore. He stood up and said, "I have to go to the fields to take a look."

In the newly purchased ten acres of dry land, landlord Zhang's son, a prodigal, was late in organizing autumn sowing. The winter wheat in the field grew late. I don't know if he can survive this wave.

"Dad, wait until the weather gets better before going. It's not safe now." Li Xiaohan advised.

"It doesn't matter. I'll put on my raincoat and bamboo hat. I won't worry if I don't go and take a look."

When it comes to crops, no one can explain Li Xiandong's stubbornness and persistence.

Li Xiaohan had no choice but to let him go.

"Xiaohan, give me a bowl of your pepper wine so that I can warm myself up."

"Sure." At this time, I wasn't afraid of getting into trouble by drinking. A bowl of this wine wasn't intoxicating at all.

Li Xiandong raised his neck and drank a bowl of wine in one breath, then went out facing the wind wearing a raincoat and bamboo hat.

Li Xiaohan and Wang were no longer in the mood to fiddle with anything else. They both stopped and looked at the door eagerly, waiting for Li Xiandong to return.

"It's okay. Your father knows the severity and it will be okay." Wang didn't know whether to comfort herself or Li Xiaohan.

The wait is always long and full of worries, especially when the weather is not getting better and is gradually getting darker.

Li Xiaohan's face became more solemn as the sky got darker, and he couldn't help but think of the extreme examples in social news in his previous life: a delivery person who single-handedly prevented a cart from rolling over during a typhoon, but was crushed. People, fishermen who went to check their fishing boats when the heavy rain came, but were capsized by big waves and never came back...

Suddenly I remembered the curse of the plot. I shouldn't think that I was careless after passing the ginseng harvesting stage. Who knows if this broken plot will correct itself. His father died early.

The more I think about it, the more anxious I become, and the more I think about it, the more uneasy I become.

Her father should have been stopped.

Li Xiaohan bit his lips.

"Mom, I'm going to find someone. Go out and find my dad."

Her father went out alone. If something unexpected happened, it would really make everything go crazy. They can't sit here and wait for death.

"Ah." Wang nodded wildly in agreement, but, "Who are you looking for?"

Li Xiaohan frowned and thought: The family of Uncle Da Shu's family next door is very close, but Uncle Da Shu's legs and feet are not good, and the eldest brother and the second strong brother are still young and cannot be successful. The second uncle's family is a bit far away, but he can't. It should be possible to walk there. My second uncle has a large family, so he can have a few more people to take care of each other.

"I'm going to find my second uncle." Li Xiaohan said and took action.

At this time, with the cold wind howling, the door suddenly smacked.

Is her father back?

Li Xiaohan rushed away and opened the door, only to see her father wearing a raincoat.

"father."

"Hurry in, it's windy and snowy outside, don't freeze." Li Xiandong quickly pushed Li Xiaohan in.

For just a moment, Li Xiaohan saw a group of people behind her father, followed by several carriages. These people were now severely damaged by the wind, snow and hail, and each of them had lost their wealth and status, and looked miserable.

At this time, a young wealthy man holding an umbrella stood up behind his father and said in a cold voice, "Miss Li, we are on the road, and the hailstorm came suddenly. We just want to get out of the way. Excuse me." ."

Both sides raised their heads and looked at each other, feeling slightly startled for a moment.

=== Chapter === 51

The sky full of wind and snow poured in from the gate, and Li Xiaohan felt that the eyes of the noble man outside the door were colder and more urgent than the wind, snow and hail.

What kind of person did her father bring back?

Their family has such a small foundation, so they won't mess with anyone they shouldn't mess with.

Li Xiaohan didn't want to get involved with any big shots. In this feudal era, if he lost the power of free choice and the status of equal interaction, Li Xiaohan would rather live in the Li family's own world in Pingshan Village.

Otherwise, why didn't she invest in the original male lead? Because the original male lead was bound to take off, and then they would have a different status. It has never been Li Xiaohan's choice to tie his fate to others.

Although he was worried, Li Xiaohan moved quickly, stepped aside and said, "Come in quickly."

It's snowing and hailing outside, so there's no reason not to let people in at this moment.

As soon as he said this, Li Xiaohan noticed very carefully that the noble young man outside the door came in quickly, with eager steps.

Shouldn't there be a slave who plays the prelude?

He was very anxious. Was it because of the wind and snow?

After seeing this noble young master come in, he looked around and his face was slightly relaxed. However, when he saw the threshold of Li Xiaohan's house, his eyebrows wrinkled again.

"Ask Aunt Zhang, can Madam get out of the carriage?" The young master ordered the maid who poked her head out of the carriage behind and was waiting anxiously.

The front door of Li's house is open, but it is a farmer's door with a threshold and not wide enough, so the carriage cannot enter.

Li Xiandong's family never expected that one day a two-wheeled carriage would want to drive in through the gate. Objectively, such conditions were not met.

"Yes, Second Young Master." The maid obviously saw the threshold, her face turned pale, and she quickly retracted.

Li Xiaohan secretly guessed: Who is in the carriage? If he couldn't get off the carriage, would this noble young master have to dig up the threshold of their house? But the door of her house was made of one piece of bluestone, so it would take time to dig it out.

However, at this moment, Li Xiaohan did not feel that this noble young master was too rude or offensive. Perhaps because of his aura and behavior at this moment, it was obvious that he was extremely flustered and anxious, and was about to lose his sense of proportion. .

A soul that desperately wants to maintain calm on the outside, but is already panicking on the inside.

Especially from the brief question and answer between the noble young master and the maid, it is clear that the person in the carriage has a mother-son relationship with the young master.

Emotional people are always more sympathetic than ruthless people, and people with flaws are more likely to make people let go of their guard than those without flaws.

There was a faint voice inside the carriage, and then the curtain was opened, and a middle-aged woman wearing a simple cyan satin dress with a white jade hairpin in her hair got out of the carriage.

You can tell at a glance that this is not the lady, and she looks nothing like your young master.

Sure enough, I saw your young master shouting, "Aunt Zhang, look."

"Second Young Master," Aunt Zhang responded, walked into the house to check the surrounding environment, and then said, "There is a corridor, and the distance is not far. You just need to warm up the kang and prepare other things before going in. , stay in the warm sedan first."

"Okay." The second young master's voice finally became more stable.

At this time, the two of them remembered that the owners of this room were Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan standing beside them.

At this time, Li Xiaohan was helping Li Xiandong take off his bamboo hat and raincoat. The raincoat became wet and heavy due to the wind and snow. Wearing it again in the house would only make it colder.

"Master Li, we have a patient on the carriage. I wonder if we can make a room available in the house for convenience?"

It was the first time that Li Xiandong was called "Master" and he was not used to it. He just felt that the person calling him was not him, but he didn't know how to call him. However, when he heard that there was a patient in the car, Li Xiandong responded quickly and generously, "The main room on the west side of my house is still empty and can be used by you, but the kang is not heated yet."

He went out to check on the ten acres of newly purchased dry land and found that the situation there was even more serious. The hail in Lijia Village was only the size of a baby's fist, but the hail that fell on the ten acres of dry land was the size of an adult's fist, and judging from the sky, it seemed that it was about to rain.

Although he was shocked and hurt, Li Xiandong was ready to go home immediately. In this kind of weather, it was extremely dangerous to stay outside. He has a wife and a daughter, and before leaving home, his daughter repeatedly warned him not to have any accidents.

Li Xiandong thought so, and that's what he did. Just as he was rushing home in the wind and snow, he suddenly saw a carriage running wildly on the road ahead. Perhaps the beast was so frightened by the wind, snow and hail that it lost control.

Li Xiandong was alone and did not dare to stop the carriage, so he immediately turned around and ran back to the field. Fortunately, the bearers on the carriage were highly skilled and there were several people on horseback chasing after him, helping to control the frightened horse.

Only then did Li Xiandong dare to step forward and ask if anyone needed help. If these people got lost, he could help point the way.

After a conversation, Li Xiandong learned that this group of people was rushing from Fucheng to a villa outside the city. It seemed that the weather was very good today, but unexpectedly, they encountered a snowstorm on the way, making it difficult to return and move forward. .

Moreover, there were patients in their carriage, which was quite dangerous, so they hoped to use Li Xiandong's house as a convenience to escape the sudden snowstorm.

After hearing this, Li Xiandong expressed his understanding. He naturally knew how fierce and fast the day had become, and looking at the weather, it was indeed not suitable to be on the road anymore, so he took the group back to his home. Home.

It was only after he got home that he couldn't see clearly in the wind and snow. Now Li Xiandong realized that the young master he was talking to was an extremely noble family, so noble that he was incompatible with his house.

However, since the family had a patient and wanted to borrow a house, Li Xiandong still lent out his empty house.

"Isn't there a fire wall?" the second young master asked, disappointed. Although I know that this is not a wealthy family, this house should be pretty good for a farmer. In the wind and snow, the house next to it seems to be more shabby.

"Only the two main rooms on the east side of my house have fire walls, and they are both occupied by people." Li Xiandong said, "If you really need it, you can give us the house where we live." "

I heard that there was a lady in the carriage. If the young master is so noble, the lady must also be extremely noble.

Logically speaking, he had to borrow it. After all, men had lived in Li Xiandong and Wang's room, so Li Xiaohan's room was more suitable.

However, Li Xiandong selfishly did not want to lend out Li Xiaohan's house. In fact, he did not want to borrow his own house either. His mother was still pregnant with the baby. However, although Li Xiandong was honest, he still knew that sometimes noble people spoke, Don't allow yourself to say no.

However, I heard that there are people living there, and it seems that your master is not very willing. She frowned slightly, and Aunt Zhang said, "Since there are people living there, there is no need. There are many people, and the atmosphere is mixed, and the lady is not healthy." Weak. A fire kang will do, and we will add a charcoal basin when the time comes. Mr. Li, please lead the way. We will send someone to burn the kang first and put things in order."

As soon as these words came out, both parties and three people breathed a sigh of relief. Li Xiaohan thought this was great. She was unwilling to lend out her room. After she awakened her past life consciousness, she developed a sense of territory. Fortunately, everyone thinks so.

"Aunt Zhang, Second Young Master, please come this way." Not knowing how to address him, Li Xiandong called him by their mutual title.

Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan took the two people to the main room of the west room and opened the door.

The Li family's house is newly built. No one has lived in the two main houses on the west side, and there is nothing in the rooms. However, Mr. Wang takes good care of the house on weekdays. The room is extremely clean, not even dusty.

Obviously, these two rooms made Aunt Zhang and the Second Young Master a little more satisfied. They said, "Then I will disturb Mr. Li and Miss Li. Could you please Miss Li to show us how to burn the kang?" We can make the other arrangements ourselves."

Li Xiaohan was naturally very happy. It would be okay to borrow a room, but if she was required to serve others, it would be impossible.

After the agreement was reached, it was not convenient for Li Xiandong to come forward because he was a female relative. Mrs. Wang was pregnant and the road was slippery in the snow. She had been in the kitchen before. She only saw her husband coming in with two people and opening the door to the west room. Then Li Xiaohan went forward to negotiate. Li Xiandong found Mrs. Wang. Explained the situation.

Wang was a little worried about Li Xiaohan, but Li Xiaohan seemed to be greeting him well.

Li Xiaohan is naturally good at it. After listening to this all the way, she also understood clearly. Among this group of people, this Aunt Zhang seems to be a female doctor or something, and this young master's mother is a noble lady. Madam seemed to be very ill, and she couldn't catch the cold anyway. Considering what her father just said, she was frightened when she met these people on the road, so she came to her house to borrow a place for convenience.

Because there are patients, the request is a little more modest.

However, when Li Xiaohan saw the noble man talking inside the carriage, Aunt Zhang did not take any other protective measures. It was probably not an infectious disease, but the problem of the noble lady herself.

Although this group of people are picky, they are very polite. Except for the noble young master's eyes that were a little anxious at first, but a little sharp, but later they restrained themselves very well and did not order or disrespect themselves. Home. As long as he's willing to pretend, that's fine.

And although they are polite, they are very picky, so they don't need to do anything on their own. They just need to borrow a place and let others take care of it themselves.

So what else is there? Just treat your home as a B&B, and a group of distinguished guests are here to stay for a while. Much better than I expected.

After getting enough information, Li Xiaohan felt relieved.

Sure enough, after Aunt Zhang and the Second Young Master looked at the room, they followed the maidservants and returned. After a while, a nanny who was about fifty years old and wearing a dark purple satin dress came back with three maidservants. , and there were guards carrying things through the door.

Li Xiaohan saw several big boxes, and then there were charcoal basins and the like. Many of them he didn't recognize, but they looked familiar. He had probably seen them in TV series, but he couldn't figure out what they were doing.

After the church maids lit the fire, Li Xiaohan withdrew. After more than half an hour, I think the arrangements were finally completed. The guard withdrew and left, leaving a maid to guard the room. Grandma took the two maids out to the main door, and then helped a lady in a fox fur cloak, a cloak and a hood to come in. There were three maids beside him, walking behind with things in their hands.

The hood was too big, covering most of the lady's face. Li Xiaohan's eyesight was 5.0 in this life. In the main room, he could only see that the lower half of the lady's face was extremely pale, with a thin chin and extremely white lips.

As he walked, he seemed to be relying on his grandma for strength.

This is a patient. Even Li Xiaohan, who is not a doctor, can come to this conclusion.

The lady entered the west room and never came out. The second young master and Aunt Zhang also went in. Li Xiandong helped lead the guards outside and took the horses to the backyard. The sheepfold at their house probably couldn't hold the two carriages and four horses, and they would probably be aggrieved by them.

Li Xiaohan thought to himself, when he returned to the kitchen, Mr. Wang was lighting a fire, and they had nothing to eat for lunch at home. Today is her daughter's birthday.

Coincidentally, Li Xiaohan came in and said the same thing, "Mom, it's past dinner time and dad is back too. Let's prepare the food first."

I originally wanted to have a good meal at home, but it was early in the morning and the food was only half prepared. Then Li Xiandong went out and brought back a bunch of noble people. The noble people worked hard for most of the time. After meal time, people feel hungry.

It's too late to make any more cakes or fragrant pots, but I'm fine, so I can eat them in the evening and eat other things at noon.

"My mother cooked noodles in the morning, and she still had the big bone soup. She heated up the pig's feet and ginger, and then souped up the cabbage hearts. It was enough for our family of three. Let's steam a pot of white rice as the staple food. ." Li Xiaohan said after thinking about it.

"Okay." Mrs. Wang said. Although the arrival of distinguished guests made people panic, but now they are obviously not needed, Ms. Wang actually felt much more relaxed. However, "Would you like to ask the distinguished guests if you want to eat?" what?"

Logically speaking, it is not rude to ask the guests when the host is cooking, but Li Xiaohan felt that since they were patients and had to arrange things, it would be troublesome to bother them, so he said, "No need." Well, I guess that they will send someone over if necessary. Yaowuerer75281"

When Li Xiaohan said this, Mrs. Wang felt relieved. Anyway, her daughter was right about these things.

In the kitchen, the fire gradually swayed, and the aroma of the broth slowly rose, and then the overbearing taste of pig's feet and ginger, implying the unique rice fragrance of white rice.

"Ahem, Miss Li, Mrs. Li."

The second young master and his grandma stood at the door of the kitchen.

Li Xiandong and the guards went to the backyard to place the horses, but they haven't come back yet. There are a lot of things that can't be accommodated in the two rooms in the west house, so some things can only be placed in the Li family hall. The lady took four maids, a nanny, and an aunt. There was no room in the west room, so the two maids retreated to the hall to pack the things they needed.

In short, it seems that this distinguished guest and his party forced the Li family's mother and daughter into the kitchen.

Therefore, at this moment, the Second Young Master and the Nanny felt a little embarrassed.

Li Xiaohan didn't understand their embarrassment. In winter, their family always ate in the kitchen. In the middle of winter, it's very cold to eat in the main room. As for food boxes, charcoal basins, fire dragons, etc., the Li family does not have those things.

"What's the matter?" Li Xiaohan stood up and asked. Now she could see that although this group of people were noble, they were not bullying others, so her previous worries dissipated. Now, Li Xiaohan, as long as I'm not embarrassed, it's not me who's embarrassed, and I don't even have the title of son or wife anymore.

"Miss Li, Mrs. Li, we still need to borrow your kitchen to boil some medicine." Mammy said, their young master is a husband after all, and logically he shouldn't marry his mistress directly. He was dealing with an unmarried girl, but he had no choice but because Li Xiandong was not there.

Forget it, I'm away from home, and now I'm in this situation again, so don't talk about those false etiquette.

"I want to cook some medicine. That's okay. Come here." Li Xiaohan said, and asked casually, "Do you want to eat? Did you bring anything? I want to lend it to you." Aren't we?"

This Miss Li was very calm and did not even address her, but it seemed that it was not her fault.

Of course it's not my fault, Li Xiaohan complained in his heart. Until now, you haven't reported to the house. I think you are in a panic and don't care about you.

Both sides were silent, and then the noble young master said, "Miss Li, our surname is Zhang, sorry to bother you. This is Aunt Jin. We brought some food, but it's not enough. I still need to ask the government to borrow some."

Arriving at Li's Mansion, Mr. Zhang seemed to have taken over the world.

Aunt Jin seemed to realize that she had not informed her family yet, so she was the one who was being rude.

"Oh, Mr. Zhang, Aunt Jin, that's okay. You guys are going out. With this weather, I think you won't be able to leave for a while. These big tanks are for daily use. Food, vegetables, and bacon are hung on the roof. If you lack anything, just tell us."

"Okay, thank you, Miss Li." Aunt Jin responded. The mistress of the house turned out to be a man of few words, and this girl was quite courageous.

So a maid came in to boil the medicine. They brought a small medicine stove and a medicine jar, and the medicine was quite smooth.

Just at this time, the food for Li Xiaohan and others was ready, so Li Xiaohan and Mrs. Wang took the food to the east room - although they had never eaten in the east room before, it was not special now. What's the situation? Where is the place?

Li Xiaohan and Mr. Wang withdrew, leaving Aunt Jin and her maid a little helpless.

No, this farmer's family is so strange, they just left like this, just left like that.

They are in the Zhang Mansion and in the fiefdom of King Ding, they can be regarded as first-class powerful officials. Well, even if this farmer's family doesn't know the Zhang family, they should be able to see that people in their own group are either rich or noble, so why are they not flattering at all.

Yes, they gave up the west room and the main room, and now even the kitchen. It seems to be very polite, but they are hiding. Even Li Xiandong, who has returned, is hiding. Come to the east room.

Why don't you just come forward and fawn over and help? They are rich. They have money, can you help me?

What to do now? It was originally calculated that it would only take two hours to drive from Fucheng to the hot spring village. The servants waiting in the kitchen had already arrived at the hot spring village to wait. Now the maids waiting around include the nuns. One o'clock No experience in the kitchen.

Moreover, there are special people in the Zhang Mansion who make fires. Even if they know how to cook, there is no other way to deal with the row of bacon and rice from the Li family.

Li Xiaohan's family didn't know that Aunt Jin was struggling in the kitchen. Li Xiandong had just come back. He was hungry and wanted to eat first.

First, take a sip of the bone soup, which will warm your body. There is also the pig's trotter and ginger, which is suitable for the weather. The heart of the cabbage is also very tender and delicious.

The whole family had a great time eating.

However, when he was half full, a burst of smoke came in. Li Xiaohan opened the door and saw thick smoke billowing in the kitchen.

"Is the kitchen on fire? Is the water leaking?" Li Xiaohan shouted.

"No, no." A maid ran out, very flustered, "It just kept smoking."

"Cough, cough, cough." Li Xiaohan ran in, took over the initiative of the stove, and pulled out the unburned firewood from the stuffed stove.

"I'm sorry, Miss Li, we really didn't expect to stop halfway, and the cook didn't follow us."

Aunt Jin felt really rude. There was no cook, so the Li family hid in their room. She asked the second young master for instructions. She didn't know when the weather would get better, so they had to prepare their own food. Make meals for the master. You can't let your wife and son eat cold pastries all the time. At least they need something hot. Especially Madam's body, she can't bear the cold the most. Aunt Zhang said, it's best to eat something warm.

Unexpectedly, the stove in this farmhouse is really difficult.

Now, Grandma Jin has no airs anymore. Just now when the smoke burst out, the second son ran out from the west room, and now he is standing in the main room.

The servants like myself have made the master lose face.

Forget it, Li Xiaohan looked at the grandma Jin and the maids in bright and beautiful clothes in front of him. They no longer had the splendor and elegance they had just now. Their hair was now crooked and their faces were dirty. It seems that a fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken.

"Let us cook this meal for you. It's just that the workmanship is rough. I hope Mrs. Zhang and Mr. Zhang won't find it objectionable." Don't really let them burn down the kitchen. They are still the ones in trouble. Own.

"No, no."

"Do Mrs. Zhang and Mr. Zhang have any taboos?" Li Xiaohan asked. After all, they are patients, so it is normal to have taboos.

"Madam, you have a light diet, preferably some hot porridge and rice with running water. The young master has no taboos." Aunt Jin replied.

Although the craftsmanship is rough, if he really wants to make it, Li Xiaohan will not just make it for others.

After thinking about it, Li Xiaohan quickly made a stir-fried cabbage, a stir-fried bacon, and a steamed soy sauce pork. He directed Li Xiandong to kill a fish and make a steamed fish. The pig's feet and ginger were still hot, and then he made I ordered a dessert of almond ginger milk and a pot of lean meat porridge.

Finally, I cooked a pot of cured rice for them. This pot of rice was enough for them, the maids and aunts to eat together.

"Okay, take it out." Li Xiaohan put away the spatula and directed the very majestic nuns and first- and second-class maids.

"Thank you, Miss Li." Aunt Jin finally regained her dignity, but she didn't hold it back anymore.

"No thanks, I'll give it to you, madam, while it's hot. Don't let it get cold."

"Yes, thank you Miss Li for your consideration."

Li Xiaohan was too lazy to be polite to them and ran back to his room. Now the mystery of this group of people has been almost lifted, but Li Xiaohan feels that everyone is always on a different path, forget it, it is difficult to deal with.

In the west room, "Madam, Second Young Master, let's try this midnight meal."

In the room, Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang looked at this simple and rough meal at midnight, feeling a little unable to take down the chopsticks.

"How about? I'll give you a cup of tea, and you can have some snacks." Aunt Jin said in embarrassment. She grew up in fine clothes and fine food, and one eggplant requires three days. How could a chicken have suffered so much?

"Forget it." Mr. Zhang picked up a dish with chopsticks.

=== Chapter === 52

Mr. Zhang first picked up a pair of chopsticks of cabbage. The cabbage seemed to be fried well. It should be the kind of tender yellow cabbage heart, which is very clean and refreshing.

Well, the tenderness and sweetness of the cabbage heart is what you taste in the mouth. Although Aunt Jin thinks that her son needs three chickens to eat one eggplant, but in fact, the second son Zhang is out studying and doing business, so naturally Had dinner at a restaurant outside. This Chinese cabbage heart is only three points worse than Tongfu Restaurant.

Mr. Zhang chewed slowly, swallowed a mouthful of cabbage heart, and drank another mouthful of lean meat porridge.

The pork slices were very thin, and you could tell it was freshly slaughtered pork that had been marinated with shredded ginger. It didn't have that meaty smell that I don't know how to process, and it was very smooth and tender. Garnish with a little green onion. What comes to your mouth at the end is the perfect fusion of the mellow and inclusive rice, the tenderness and smoothness of the meat, and the freshness of the green onions.

"Serve a bowl of porridge to Madam." Second Master Zhang ordered.

"It's rare that you are not picky, I'm going to give it a try." The lady sitting opposite Mr. Zhang, half lying on the kang, said weakly.

There is a kang and a charcoal pot burning in the house. The doors and windows are closed, and the heat is overwhelming. But the lady's lower body was covered with an apricot red silk quilt. She didn't take off her fox fur cloak. She only lowered her hood and wore a fox fur patch on her forehead.

A face was revealed. It was extremely thin, with sunken eye sockets and a thin chin. Upon closer inspection, it looked somewhat similar to Mr. Zhang's.

Although she was ill, Mrs. Zhang looked quite relaxed. She even said this with a smile. Aunt Jin quickly served Mrs. Zhang a bowl of lean meat porridge, half-leaning on the edge of the kang, thinking I want to feed Mrs. Zhang.

"I'll do it myself." Mrs. Zhang refused, and stretched out her right hand from the quilt. The wrist was only a layer of skin and bones, and it was so thin that it was about to break. However, she still picked up the spoon and ate the porridge.

Aunt Jin and Aunt Zhang on the side were relieved to see that Madam was willing and able to eat.

After eating less than half a bowl of porridge, Grandma Jin motioned for Mrs. Zhang to serve more, but Mrs. Zhang waved her hand and refused.

"Mom, try this dessert, they do it well." Mr. Zhang Er said again.

"Then let's try again." Mrs. Zhang said.

Aunt Jin quickly brought a bowl of almond ginger and goat milk. This time Mrs. Zhang did not refuse Aunt Jin's feeding. But this dessert obviously won Mrs. Zhang's heart more than the bowl of lean meat porridge just now, and Mrs. Zhang actually finished it.

At the end, he said, "It's indeed good."

Grandma Jin immediately decided to buy this recipe of almond ginger and milk.

"I heard that we almost burned down someone else's kitchen. It was the little girl from the Li family who made this lunch." After finishing the dessert, Mrs. Zhang couldn't eat any more, but she felt too much after eating the almond ginger milk. Feeling a little warm, Mrs. Zhang decided to ask about the situation just now.

"Yes, it's all the old slave's fault." Aunt Jin lowered her head in shame, "Now that I'm old, I haven't been in the kitchen for a while, so I've lost my duty."

Aunt Jin didn't set the kitchen on fire, but as the manager of the lady's room, if the maids made mistakes, it was her fault.

"Mommy is joking." Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "If our General's Mansion still needs you to light the fire in person, it would be a joke. Today is just a sudden snowstorm that disrupted the plan. There is no need to Keep it in mind, it's just that we are doing this. After all, we are disturbing others, so we still have to show some etiquette."

"Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely handle it properly." Aunt Jin said.

"It's the family that went to Renhe Hall to sell Eucommia ulmoides." Seeing that Mrs. Zhang was in good spirits, Mr. Zhang interjected.

"Oh, is it that family, the Miss Li Cheng'an you sent to check?" Mrs. Zhang's interest was indeed piqued.

The second son of Zhang, his surname is Zhang, his given name is Fu, and his courtesy name is Cheng'an.

Mrs. Zhang was referring to the fact that Zhang Fu initially felt that the girl did not look like a farmer and suspected that the girl was a spy. He deliberately inquired about the situation of Renhetang and approached his home. He also sent people to check on the girl. It turned out that the girl was a spy. Things about farmers.

Speaking of this family, Mrs. Zhang became interested, "Didn't you see them discussing business with the Youth Gang again later? How was the investigation?"

Mrs. Zhang was born in a big businessman. She had previously managed her family's dowry and part of the general's property as a daughter-in-law. Later, she retired due to illness and gradually handed it over to the Second Young Master Zhang. However, the foundation of knowledge is still there. Mrs. Zhang is also well-informed when she is ill, and she is not restricted to those who live in the back house.

"They made a business called cotton combs and supplied it to the Qinggang. The Qinggang used this to gain popularity and open a shop." Zhang Fu did not feel embarrassed when mentioning the past, and told Mrs. Zhang in detail Explained a series of things before and after.

"This girl is very smart." Mrs. Zhang said with admiration. She has seen the vastness of the world, and she really likes these girls who break away from the secular framework and live their own wonderful lives.

"No, he's very capable." Grandma Jin interjected.

Although her temperament is very different from that of the young ladies in various prefectures and counties, she is neat in her hands and feet and has a clear mind. Grandma Jin has seen many families who want to climb high branches. Miss Li and her family are hiding, obviously to avoid taboos. Although it brought some trouble to Aunt Jin, she won the respect of Aunt Jin.

It's rare to find Grandma Jin capable. Mrs. Zhang asked in detail what happened after arriving at the farmhouse, and she was naturally smiling amidst the ups and downs.

After chatting for a while, Mrs. Zhang looked tired and asked, "How is the weather outside?"

"It's still snowing, and it won't stop for a while. Mom, are you tired? Take a rest first." Zhang Fu said.

"When you say that, I'm really impressed. Then I'll take a break and you go out and do your work." Mrs. Zhang said.

Aunt Jin came forward, took off her cloak, and helped Mrs. Zhang lie down.

Zhang Fu came out. At this moment, the four maids were still in the kitchen, and the eight guards were all crowded in the corridor. The Li family is indeed a bit small for people like the Zhang family. In order to make room for the master, the servants have to squeeze in. Seeing Zhang Fu come out of his wife's room, two people who looked like maids bowed and saluted, walked over quietly and stood guard at the door, waiting for the summons that might come at any time.

The three members of the Li family are hiding in the room and leaving the whole family to you. At this moment, there are only slightly messy boxes and cages in the main room, and there is no one else.

Zhang Fu looked up at the sky and saw that it was still snowing and windy. This kind of weather was really not suitable for traveling.

What was darker than the sky was Zhang Fu's face as he looked up at the sky. After a while, Zhang Fu lowered his head and shouted, "Qingzhu."

A guard walked out from the corridor of Li's house, bowed and said, "Second Young Master."

"How's the check going?"

"Back to the young master, there is nothing wrong with Madam's frame, and the horse has not been poisoned. It has settled down now. However, there are traces of bruises on the forehead and red threads in the eyes. I think it may have been hit by hail, and then It caught the eye and frightened the horse." Qingzhu lowered his head and reported.

The horse was frightened and ran wildly. In addition to the heavy wind and snow, they ran for a long way before stopping the horse. Then he strayed into the vicinity of Pingshan Village and took Li Xiandong home.

It was God's will. After half a breath, Zhang Fu continued to ask, "Did you send someone back?"

"Aunt Zhang has already written the prescription and written a letter to Dr. Zhang to explain the situation. Qingsong and Qingbai have rushed to Fucheng and will bring Dr. Zhang and the medicinal materials in about two hours."

Zhang Fu glanced at the sky again, with a hint of helplessness on his face. He took a deep breath, turned around and went to the east room to knock on the door.

"Master Li."

Li Xiaohan and his family watched the movement gradually disappear outside, feeling a little bored in the east room. Suddenly I heard someone calling Master Li outside the door.

Li Xiandong was shocked, and he had gradually come to his senses. Originally, he was thinking about the snowy weather, and if someone else was in trouble, he would bring someone back to hide from the snowy weather.

After returning, Li Xiandong realized deeply that what he thought was really simple. This group of people, including maids, women, carriage drivers and guards, were not people he would come into contact with at all.

Li Xiandong is not regretful because the family still has patients, but he really doesn't know what to do now.

Especially when he heard Master Li being called outside the door, Li Xiandong felt that his whole body was covered with thorns and he didn't want to go out.

"Dad, the young master outside the door is calling you. You go out." Li Xiaohan said, climbing down from the kang, she must accompany his father.

"I won't go. I'll lie down on the kang." Mrs. Wang said, and she shrank from the group of maids.

Li Xiandong glanced at Mr. Wang with envy, and followed Li Xiaohan with a grimace.

So, Zhang Fu, who was outside the door and wanted to greet the host politely, saw Li Xiandong with a distressed look walking out, followed by Li Xiaohan with a look of helplessness.

The relationship between father and daughter is still so strange.

"Master Li, Miss Li."

"Second Young Master Zhang, let's go to the main room to talk." Li Xiaohan led the way.

Qingzhu's eyelids twitched. For the first time, a woman walked in front of their young master. Qingzhu quickly took a peek at the young master's face, and saw that the young master's face did not change color. He felt that the young master was indeed the young master, and it was not like he was making such a fuss.

Here, Zhang Fu also felt very helpless. It was not that he was blaming him, but he was just a little uncomfortable with it.

Several people went to the main room. The set of furniture that Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan bought in Fucheng that day was still there. Li Xiaohan said, "Dad, you are the master. You can sit on it and entertain the guests."

Li Xiandong opened his eyes slightly, panicked for a moment, and glanced at Li Xiaohan helplessly.

Li Xiaohan's face was very determined. He was now in his own home. The other party was very popular and wealthy. He could not put his family in the position of servants because of this. Although the gap between the two families is obvious, the tone must be set: the host is the host and the guest is the guest.

Li Xiandong had no choice but to sit on the Grand Master's chair.

Then, Qingzhu was horrified to find that his young master was on an equal footing with an old farmer.

Seeing Li Xiandong and Mr. Zhang sitting down, Li Xiaohan sat down on the younger brother's chair in the east.

Qingzhu hurriedly stood behind his young master, urging himself in his heart not to make too much of a fuss and lose his composure as the captain of the first bodyguard under the command of the second young master of your general's residence. Look at the young master. Whatever the young master does, you should do it.

After the three of them were seated, Zhang Fufang raised his hands and bowed, and said to Li Xiandong, "Master Li, Miss Li, thank you both for taking us in today. You really helped us a lot."

Li Xiandong did not dare to look at Zhang Fu and looked away hesitantly. This noble gentleman not only sat in the same row with him, but also said thank you to him. What should he say?

Li Xiandong stammered, "You're welcome."

Then his eyes turned to Li Xiaohan again.

Li Xiaohan answered, "Second Master Zhang, you're welcome. In this storm, no matter who it is, they will lend a helping hand."

The other party didn't put on any airs, and it seemed that he was a little uncomfortable with it, but he was still polite. Perhaps this was the upbringing of a noble man in this era, and Li Xiaohan's voice softened a bit.

"Master Li and Miss Li are so generous, and we should naturally be grateful." Zhang Fu thanked him, but there was a hint of embarrassment on his face, "But, looking at the sky, the wind and snow have no intention of stopping, we probably still have I have to stay one night, hoping that Mr. Li and Miss Li will have a convenient trip."

"Yes, the weather is still decent." Li Xiandong added sadly, he could understand the weather.

The roots of the winter wheat in the newly bought ten acres of dry land have not grown strong, and I am afraid that they will not be able to hold on. Landlord Zhang, the prodigal son, is really wasting food. How could this be possible? God would kill him.

Li Xiaohan was a little embarrassed, "We have to stay overnight, which would be a bit troublesome. There are too many of you."

As soon as these words came out, even though they were true, all three people in the main room suddenly paused, wondering how to answer this. Say goodbye? Can't leave now. Stay? Inexplicably, it feels a bit shameless.

Ahem, after Li Xiandong coughed twice, he lowered his head to explore the patterns of his furniture. It was so beautiful.

"I don't mean to drive you away, but our family's small house cannot accommodate so many of you if we stay overnight." Li Xiaohan explained.

Qingzhu suddenly had an idea. He took out his money bag and put it on the desk. Fortunately, as the captain of the first guard under the Second Young Master of the General Mansion, the Second Young Master's money bag was with him. The one who kept it said, "Miss Li, here are 20 taels of gold and about 20 taels of silver. I don't know if they are enough to cover the expenses of the rest of us. Could you please Miss Li to help us arrange it? I'm really bothering you."

10 taels of gold = 100 taels of silver. Qingzhu only hopes that Miss Li can feel his deep sincerity. Otherwise, my son really will not be able to step down.

Li Xiaohan took a generous look at the money bag, and saw neither excessive joy nor greed. With so many people, they deserved some room and board expenses, so why should they pay for it themselves? There is no such truth.

"In this world, money can indeed solve most of the problems." Li Xiaohan sighed and said, "However, at this moment, you can see that my family's environment is like this, so there are still some I need you to make do with it."

"Miss Li, please tell me." Qingzhu breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that money could solve most problems.

"Let's talk about people first. In addition to the two main rooms, my house also has three side rooms. I definitely can't accommodate people like you. Look at who stays. The other parts need to be given out."

"Our guards can huddle in the woodshed." Qingzhu quickly expressed his determination and said that eight people could stand in the woodshed. They had done a visual inspection and it was correct.

"It's the twelfth lunar month of winter. You don't have to be like this. I know you guards, right, can't stay too far away from your master. The neighbor next door is called Li Dashu. You bring money and let someone stay with you. Otherwise, my house will be really crowded. No more."

Li Xiaohan was a little uncomfortable with the relationship between these ancient guards and maids who had no self at all and only revolved around their masters. The richest clan leader and third uncle's family in Pingshan Village are not like this. Although they also have one or two servants, everyone works, so the difference doesn't seem to be very big.

Qingzhu glanced at Zhang Fu with a slightly aggrieved look. He wanted to be closer to the young master.

Zhang Fu looked calm and ordered, "Leave one person to follow me, and the others can stay next door."

After food, clothing, housing, transportation and a place to live have been arranged, then there is the issue of people's meals. "I guess you may not be used to this earthen stove, but our family alone will definitely not be able to cook for all of you. We We don't have that much stuff at home. You need someone to pay for it, and I'll find a few women from the village who are extremely knowledgeable to help. There's no way this food can be cooked as finely as in the city. You guys If there is no objection, then let's do it."

Zhang Fu and Qingzhu looked slightly embarrassed, obviously thinking of the smoky earth stove that their group burned and almost burned down someone else's house.

"Listen to Miss Li. Please help Miss Li find someone for us. We are not picky eaters, as long as we can eat enough."

"Cough, cough, cough." Zhang Fu coughed twice in embarrassment, and then said, "Miss Li, I wonder if my mother's share of the meal can be shared with you. It's because my mother has been ill for some time. I have always had a bad appetite. But I tried Miss Li's cooking at noon today and I liked it very much. So I still have to trouble you."

Li Xiaohan glanced at Zhang Fu and saw that he looked serious, so he nodded and said, "That's okay. It's just that my cooking is probably at the same level as today. Whatever we eat then, Mrs. Zhang will eat. It should be OK."

It is very troublesome to cook meals for patients alone, so Li Xiaohan will consider it.

"Yes, my mother likes to eat a list, so I'll trouble Miss Li."

"That's OK." Li Xiaohan responded crisply. Seeing the cooperation of this group of people, Li Xiaohan finally said, "And where is your horse?"

"The horse is with us." Before Li Xiaohan finished speaking, Qingzhu blurted out that his beloved mount must be with them. They were afraid that Miss Li would separate them from Ma again because the place was small.

"I know the horses have to be with you, but here, the livestock eat straw. At most, we can add some soybeans. Is that okay?" No one in Pingshan Village has ever raised horses. Horses at this time are expensive. I wonder if they usually eat them. How to feed.

In fact, Li Xiandong's family was newly divided after the autumn harvest. There was no straw at home, so he had to ask his tribe members for the fodder for the sheep. It is estimated that these people's horses will eat up all the fodder in a short time. Therefore, even if it is straw, we still have to prepare it.

"Yes, yes." Qingzhu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sure." Li Xiaohan sighed inwardly. She really didn't want to do these things. It always reminded her of her boss in her previous life. On a whim, she suddenly made a decision. She would arrange for someone to run away and break her leg. The hard work.

However, when people are in the workplace, how can they not bow their heads? Li Xiaohan comforted himself that 20 taels of gold and 20 taels of silver were considered a high salary for him.

"Dad, you will take the money and lead this guard to Uncle Dashan's house later to buy half a fan of pork. Uncle Dashan's house is killing the New Year pig today. The snowstorm came suddenly, and I guess I haven't had time to sell it. In Uncle Dashan's house, Take care of it at home and send it to our home before the application deadline."

I cut up half of the pig at my own house, fearing that the maids would not be able to bear it.

"Miss Li, my subordinate's name is Qingzhu. You can call me Qingzhu." Qingshan quickly reported his name.

Li Xiaohan nodded and continued, "Then, you take a detour to your second uncle's house to buy some fodder and beans for the horses, and ask Aunt Zhao and Sister-in-law Ma and Sister-in-law Han to see what other vegetables are available. Ask them to help buy some and bring them over. The most important thing is to ask Aunt Zhao and Sister-in-law Ma and Sister-in-law Han to come over before Shen Shi and help cook the food."

"Finally, you take this Qingzhu guard to the clan leader's house and tell him that a foreigner has come to our house. Since he wants to stay overnight, it is logical that he should tell the clan leader."

With so many people staying at their home, and with such strong force, it was a dark and windy night, and their home was still remote. The guards of the Zhang family were not afraid anymore, but Li Xiaohan was afraid.

Although it doesn't seem like it at the moment, if it's a farmer and a snake, or if a noble person doesn't like it, his family will be on the chopping block.

Even if it's not the farmer and the snake, the longer they stay, the deeper the involvement. But Li Xiaohan didn't want such a deep involvement.

The key to cracking a relationship is to bring more people into it. When one person helps another person, it is called a drop of water and a spring of kindness is repaid. A group of people helps a group, which is thanking everyone for their help.

It is better to inform relatives and friends quickly. There is strength in numbers and things can be done easily in numbers.

"Well, I understand." Li Xiandong stood up and said.

Seeing this, Qingzhu quickly picked up the money bag and chased after him.

Li Xiandong just left, leaving Li Xiaohan and Zhang Fu sitting on the chairs.

"Mr. Zhang, do you have anything else to ask for?" Li Xiaohan asked. This is the customer who pays, and they are the shopkeepers who collect the money.

"There is no request. Leave everything to Miss Li. It's us who have disturbed you." Zhang Fu said seriously.

After discussing the matter, we still have to wait for Li Xiandong to come back to check on the situation, and we can't go back to the room right away.

There was an awkward silence in the air. Seeing this, the maid in front of the West House quickly went to the kitchen to bring them a cup of hot tea - the water was boiled with their own small medicine stove and the charcoal fire they brought, and it was kept warm. Keep it ready for use at any time.

Li Xiaohan picked up the tea and took a sip. He couldn't tell what kind of tea he drank. He just felt that the tea had a long fragrance. It was indeed a tea for rich people.

The two of them drank tea quietly, and the atmosphere was not so awkward. Instead, the maid stood next to her, thinking that she had never encountered such a situation before. What should she do?

Fortunately, the maid didn't need to worry about it for much longer. Soon Li Xiandong came back with Qingzhu.

There were only Wang and Li Xiaohan at home. Li Xiandong became more and more uneasy as he walked. He almost started running with Qingzhu along the way and left after finishing his errands. Li Dashan and Li Shengyi only knew that there were customers buying meat and vegetables. The patriarch was a little more experienced. He could see from Qingzhu that the guests of Li Xiandong's family were very extraordinary, so he took Li Xinhe and followed Li Xiandong over. I asked everything I could.

However, Zhang Ergongzi, whose surname is Zhang, ranks second, and the clan leader is secretly frightened, but he is not sure.

When he arrived at Li Xiandong's house and saw Mr. Zhang sitting in the hall, the patriarch's heart beat even harder.

Seeing Li Xiandong return, Li Xiaohan stood up, and Zhang Fu, as a guest, also stood up.

"Dad, you are back. You have told me everything." Li Xiandong came back so quickly, Li Xiaohan was afraid of any accidents.

"It's all done. The clan leader is also here." After Li Xiandong said naively, he sat back down on his seat. There was a cup of tea next to him. He ran in a hurry, picked up the tea and drank it in one gulp.

The seat was awkward now. Li Xiaohan's eyelids twitched.

If my father takes the main seat, who will take the remaining main seat? ?

Second Young Master Zhang? Wouldn't the patriarch be taking advantage of his own father?

Patriarch? Doesn't that mean that Second Young Master Zhang sat down with him? Such a noble young master, would you be willing to be my companion? Although we are guests, we are also distinguished guests.

Li Xiandong finished a cup of tea in one breath before he felt something was wrong.

Everyone in the group, except Li Xiandong, was standing. As soon as he saw this clearly, Li Xiandong wanted to stand up fiercely.

Li Xiaohan frowned again, but at present, there seems to be no other way.

At this moment, Zhang Fu took a step forward and said to Patriarch Li, "Chief Li, I have admired you for a long time. Today we encountered a sudden snowstorm and entered your land without having time to say hello. It is our fault. Today we are Guest, I am a junior again, please sit down."

Stretching out his hand, he asked Patriarch Li to take the main seat.

"This..." Patriarch Li was very hesitant.

"Please." Zhang Fu's tone was still clear and clear, and there was even a smile on his face, but no one could ignore his persistence at this moment.

Since he has placed himself in the position of a guest and a junior, he is based on the subject-object theory and the seniority theory, rather than the identity theory.

In this way, it does not appear that the Zhang family is bullying others, but it also appears that everyone is friendly and polite.

The patriarch was pushed to the throne in this way. For a moment, he felt as if he were sitting on the tip of a needle, and also felt as if he were sitting on a cloud. He was so dizzy that he couldn't believe it.

Zhang Fu then sat down on Zidi's chair below. Now, Zhang Fu and Li Xiaohan, one on the left and one on the right, sat across from each other.

Qingzhu lowered his head and lowered his eyes, feeling frightened. He felt that this seat arrangement at this moment was something he had never seen in his life. Call it normal, but it's a little weird; call it weird, it seems normal.

Forget it, he is just a guard, obeying the Young Master's orders. He will do whatever the Young Master does.

The patriarch was pushed to the main position, but he had never thought about this situation. For a moment, his brain seemed to be useless. When he opened his mouth, he started talking nonsense about welcome, poor hospitality, and not knowing how your father was doing or what he needed.

Li Xiaohan was a little bored listening to the clan leader's nonsense, but Zhang Fu couldn't understand what it meant. He occasionally responded with a sentence or two, which was extremely polite. The patriarch became even more excited and started talking non-stop.

Li Xiaohan looked at the second young master Zhang from the corner of his eye. From the moment he opened the door of Li's house in the heavy snow, he happened to block the door. This noble young master showed his eagerness and sharpness at the beginning, leading him to He has a bit of real popularity, but at other times, he is polite and well-educated, with a mask on his face.

Even at this moment, it seems that he has no other meaning when he is sitting down. His whole person seems to be blurry and unclear.

Li Xiaohan raised his head and took a closer look. Opposite him, Mr. Zhang, was wearing a moon-white embroidered brocade robe. His legs were extremely long and slightly spread. The Li family's stool was very tall. When Li Xiaohan sat on it, his toes were straight and could only touch the ground slightly, while Mr. Zhang's legs were stretched uncomfortably.

Looking up, his back is straight, as if he is leaning on the back of the chair, but it is supported entirely by the strength of his own back, and he does not show any deliberate effort. That is, he does not relax at any moment, even if everyone present, in the past, Or in the future, there will be no intersection with him.

The last one is a face with a very pale expression. Before, he had only glanced at Mr. Zhang's eyes briefly and found them to be extremely sharp. Now that he had restrained his sharpness, Li Xiaohan suddenly noticed: Mr. Zhang is extremely tall. Star eyes, sword eyebrows, jade and metal appearance, nothing is out of harmony and nothing is superfluous.

Is this the appearance and temperament of an ancient noble prince?

Li Xiaohan was slightly stunned for a moment.

At this moment, Zhang Fu, who had been communicating with the clan leader, turned his head. Their eyes met and they narrowed their eyes slightly at the same time, both on guard.

The cold wind howled outside the house, the sound of snow falling on the branches, and the howling of the wind in the distance. It seemed vaguely like the wail of wild animals. For a moment, it seemed that they were very close and clearly audible.

The chatter of the clan leader in the house and the voice of Li Xiandong turning cautiously and restlessly seemed to be blocked by the surroundings, making everything inaudible.

It seemed like it was extremely short, yet it seemed like it was extremely long, it seemed like a moment had passed, and it seemed like after countless confrontations, both of them tensed up, and then relaxed together.

It seemed to reveal itself silently.

Li Xiaohan's persistence in his heart, from hiding in the east room at the beginning to now arranging arrangements to distract Zhang's guards and maids, was simply because he did not want to become a slave of Zhang's power in the Li family's house.

And Zhang Fu seems to be in trouble, but in fact, there is nothing that money and power can't buy, the ability to bow his head, and the ability to sit with him, but Zhang Fu's mother will not be able to leave him for a while, because Zhang Fu's mother can eat that A bowl of dessert. Bow your head for the one you love.

You know why I persist.

I know why you bow your head.

In an instant, both of them saw clearly what was in the other's mind, and they also understood that the other party saw clearly what was in their own minds.

Exchange each other's persistence and care to achieve peace.

=== Chapter === 53

The two people who reached a consensus calmly looked away.

The clouds were calm and the wind was gentle, as if nothing had happened.

Only the clan leader was left chattering.

Just taking a closer look, one person actually lowered his head and noticed his toes:

It's so short, it has to be stretched straight before it reaches the ground.

Look at the length of other people's legs, look at the length of your own legs. Comparing people to each other makes people angry.

It seems that my goat milk heightening plan still needs to be continued.

Do you want to add a high-touch exercise plan starting today?

I heard that jumping up will help you grow taller. Haven't you seen that basketball players are all tall?

The decision has been made, starting from today, race against time and every inch.

The other one's eyes began to look slightly impatient and cold:

Does this old man know what he is talking about? Have you guessed my identity? But what's the use?

When will Dr. Zhang arrive? What to do if we are trapped in this small mountain village due to this wind and snow?

Mom likes to eat ginger and milk. How about making bean sprouts again today?

Bean sprouts, oh, she doesn't look like bean sprouts now, but she has a tough body. I underestimated her.

Thinking of this, Zhang Fu focused his attention on the other side, who was standing on tiptoes.

His eyebrows were knitted together, he was actually worried about this.

He will naturally grow taller in two years.

However, Zhang Fu still showed a slightly invisible smile and separated his eyes again.

Li Xiandong, who was sitting at the top, suddenly had an intuition and looked over.

Nothing at all.

Everyone was distracted. Only the clan leader was talking and had already begun to introduce the clan history.

Li Xiandong felt relieved. Forget it, I'm distracted. Landlord Zhang's son is such a prodigal. The autumn sowing can actually be late. What will I do with my ten acres of dry land next year? If it really freezes, what should I plant instead? God bless you, but don't freeze.

In the silence, the patriarch finally realized that he was too excited and lost his composure. His old face turned slightly red, and he drank a cup of tea to calm down.

Fortunately, the maid had just put away Mr. Zhang's tea cup. The maid poured the tea cup in Patriarch Li's hand when he sat down, but it was almost cold. When the maid saw that Patriarch Li had finished drinking it in one gulp, she quickly poured another cup for him. A cup of hot tea.

After Patriarch Li drank the almost cold tea, his mind finally calmed down slightly. After a few more polite words, he finally said goodbye.

Zhang Fu politely proposed to stay, and said a few good words, saving the clan leader's face from beginning to end.

Li Xiaohan didn't make any moves. It was estimated that the clan leader had already realized what she was doing. It was inappropriate for her to do anything else at this moment, so she might as well pretend to be stupid. Li Xiandong doesn't know anything at all, he is the real distracted person.

After walking all the way out of Li Xiandong's house and following Patriarch Li all the way, Li Xinhe, who had a dull background, finally said, "Dad, you've lost your composure."

"Damn boy, I raised you in vain, and you didn't even remind me." Patriarch Li was getting more and more embarrassed and annoyed as he thought about it. What a great opportunity, but he failed to hold on and fell behind.

As a result, this son stabbed him in the back, and his usually beloved son became displeased.

But after all, he is the only beloved son. After returning to Qi, the patriarch still taught his son what he had learned, "This second son Zhang, if I guess correctly, should be the second son of General Zhang Zhen under the command of King Ding. His surname is Zhang. , Line 2, this act of magnanimity is at least 80% possible."

"What does this have to do with us?"

"what relationship!"

Patriarch Li lowered his voice, "I'm just going to say that you've learned all the rigidity of a scholar. I asked you to become your teacher, Zhu Xiucai, from the next village. You said Zhu Xiucai, a pear blossom weighs down a begonia, you?" If you don't like it, don't go. Now there is such an opportunity in front of you. Do you know that the emperor will always appoint a prince? Once you get General Zhang, you can use the east wind of Ding Wang to make your talents. There are a few more opportunities . You tell me what does it matter? What does it matter?"

The last part of the sentence could not be controlled and gradually became louder.

Li Xinhe glanced left and right and said, "Dad, please keep your voice down. Besides, if I need to borrow Dongfeng to even be a scholar, it means that I really don't have the talent to study, so I might as well keep farming in Pingshan Village." "

"Keep farming. I think you want to piss me off."

"Don't be angry, someone is coming from ahead." Li Xinhe reminded.

Patriarch Li took a look and saw that it was indeed a man walking towards here carrying a large basket.

From a distance, this man saw Patriarch Li and said, "Chief, I am Dashan. I am going to deliver meat to Xiandong's family."

Originally, he was planning to kill the New Year pig because of the good weather today. Unexpectedly, there was a snowstorm. Li Dashan almost thought that all the meat would be thrown into his own hands. His family has a small population and poor financial background. He really can't afford to eat a pig.

Just when he was worried, Brother Xiandong came over and told him that a distinguished guest had come to his house and asked him to share half of the pig. Shen Shiqian sent it over. Li Dashan felt really relieved.

Xiandong's family is really the noble family.

"Well, Dashan, let's go." Patriarch Li regained his composure and said a few words, "Don't look too much and ask too many questions. Come back as soon as you finish delivering."

"Yes, patriarch." Li Dashan was very obedient.

Patriarch Li was very satisfied that his power was still there. He continued to move forward and met Zhao's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who were carrying vegetables on their backs. Patriarch Li also gave some instructions.

Li Dashan and Zhao's group were very obedient after being warned. Li Dashan put down his things and left. Zhao's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law came in to help, but they never looked or asked, and just followed Li Xiaohan in the kitchen. .

The maid of Zhang Mansion looked at him very highly, and her respect became even more profound.

Li Xiaohan didn't know there was such a reason behind this. She was currently assigning work.

The half pig sent by Dashan contained a fresh pork belly. Fortunately, Mrs. Zhao brought two freshly stripped chickens with her when she came.

Because he didn't know what his second uncle's grandfather had in his house, Li Xiaohan asked Mrs. Zhao to bring some vegetables.

Zhao is a veteran in the kitchen. If there are distinguished guests coming, he should prepare them according to the banquet techniques. Mrs. Zhao not only brought chickens and fresh vegetables, but also mushrooms, chestnuts, and pine nuts from home. She even asked Li Jiajin to brave the wind and snow to go to the tofu seller at the entrance of the village to buy two pieces of frozen tofu.

"Mother Zhao, you are the one I can rely on. I am half relieved about the work in the kitchen because of you."

With these, you can basically prepare two tables of meals.

Li Xiaohan made a mental assessment and made a phoenix reincarnation for Mrs. Zhang, which was actually peppered pork belly and chicken, then steamed pork ribs, tofu and lean meatballs, stewed an egg custard, and served the whole one in soup. The last dessert was wok choy heart. The eggs her father had sent in the morning were afraid of spoiling and she didn't dare to give them to the patients. Besides, it was too late now, so let's make a thick goat's milk syrup.

Okay, that's it.

As for the others, please ask Mrs. Zhao to make a lean pork offal soup, stew a braised pork, stir-fry a coriander leaf, and that's it.

That's it. You can't ask for more.

Others had no objections to Li Xiaohan's menu. Wang was the only one who hesitated for a moment and said, "Xiaohan, didn't you say you wanted to eat those peppers this morning? Why don't you make one?" Let's eat it ourselves."

Her daughter rarely celebrates her birthday every year, but she spends all her time working.

Li Xiaohan was stunned, yes, today is his birthday. It's not that I forgot, it's just that there were too many things. Suddenly, birthdays seemed to become less important.

"Ah, yes, today is Xiaohan's day, Xiaohan's birthday." Mrs. Zhao suddenly realized.

"Okay, let's do it. You can do whatever you want at home. I'll see what to do and make a pickled fish. I also have two big grass carp at home. The muddy smell has gone away. It's pickled. The sauerkraut is just right now." The side dishes of the fragrant pot are almost used in the morning, so let's make the sauerkraut fish.

In one sentence, everyone in the kitchen became happy. With the leader in charge, everyone seems to be more motivated.

What are you afraid of? This is their Li family in Pingshan Village. No matter how expensive a customer is, he is still a customer.

As a result, everyone's momentum inexplicably increased and they became more energetic.

The guards and maids tried their best to make arrangements. The guards were very strong and had good knife skills, so they just arranged to cut and wash the meat at the well.

The maids couldn't think of any arrangements at the moment. Seeing that lighting a fire would almost burn down the kitchen, Li Xiaohan could only arrange for them to wash the leaves of wok. No matter what, they would always wash the vegetables. .

In the kitchen, the Li family was frying, stewing, and simmering.

While I was busy, I suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves coming from outside gradually, becoming more and more clear.

How could someone come to my home on horseback at this time? Is it someone from the Zhang family? Li Xiaohan was confused.

"Mom, I'll go out and take a look." Li Xiaohan said.

"Well, you go ahead."

Li Xiaohan walked out, just as the door of Li's house opened, and Doctor Zhang walked in followed by two guards of Zhang's house.

Li Xiaohan frowned.

In such a cold, windy and snowy day, although there was no more hail, it was still very difficult to travel.

I saw Dr. Zhang wearing a lambskin cloak and a hood on his head, his eyebrows were covered with snowflakes, his lips were still trembling, and his walking pace was not right.

This should even come on horseback in the snow.

The sick Mrs. Zhang was either extremely powerful or had a very close relationship with Dr. Zhang.

It's probably a bit of both.

Dr. Zhang's surname is Zhang, Mrs. Zhang's husband's surname is Zhang, Mr. Zhang's surname is Zhang, and Aunt Zhang's surname is Zhang... Is there any relationship here?

While Li Xiaohan was thinking, he saw Doctor Zhang approaching and hurriedly called out: "Doctor Zhang."

Doctor Zhang looked over tremblingly and nodded in response. He was even too cold to speak.

This was when Zhang Fu also received the report. Dr. Zhang arrived and came out to welcome him. Seeing Dr. Zhang's appearance, he apologized quickly, "Doctor Zhang, thank you for your hard work for asking you to visit the doctor on a snowy day."

"It's okay. Mrs. Zhang has been kind to me and has nurtured me, so that's right." Doctor Zhang said.

The grace of knowledge and nurturing.

When Dr. Zhang works in Renhetang, the person who has the kindness to know and meet him is probably the boss or the like. In this era, it is likely to be the boss.

Is there any relevant information missing?

Li Xiaohan lowered his head and thought. Suddenly, in a flash of light, Li Xiaohan remembered that when he was selling Eucommia ulmoides, the patriarch and his third uncle came to his home. His third uncle said that it was rumored that the wife of General Zhang Zhen, under the command of King Ding, was behind Renhe Hall. .

Therefore, Mrs. Zhang is Mrs. Zhang Zhen, and the second young master Zhang is the second young master of General Zhang's mansion.

Connected.

However, in the plot, General Zhang Zhen would have died long ago.

Li Xiaohan raised his head in shock and looked at Doctor Zhang and Assistant Zhang.

Zhang Fu was talking to Dr. Zhang, "My mother drank the medicine and went to sleep after midnight. She still hasn't woken up yet..."

Sensing Li Xiaohan's gaze, Zhang Zhen looked over in confusion.

The two eyes looked at each other, Li Xiaohan was shocked, Zhang Fu was confused, and then slowly turned into understanding, and finally showed a smile.

Miss Li, you must have guessed the relationship between your family, Dr. Zhang and Renhetang.

It's so smart to be able to connect the pieces with just such a little bit of information.

Li Xiaohan smiled back at Zhang Fu, withdrew his gaze, lowered his head and walked into the kitchen.

It can only be said that the information between the two people is only half correct. In the other half, Li Xiaohan has already recalled everything about General Zhang Zhen in the plot.

As an article dominated by the perspective of the original male protagonist Lin Heng, General Zhang Zhen has no intersection with the original male protagonist. He appeared in the later memories of King Ding becoming an emperor.

The emperor often said, "In this world, Zhang Aiqing understands me seven points, and Lin Aiqing understands me five points. If Zhang Aiqing is still here, Lin Aiqing is there in literature, and Zhang Aiqing is in military affairs, I will be satisfied."

The emperor said this, so the original male protagonist Lin Heng naturally went to look up Zhang Aiqing and General Zhang Zhen, who knew the emperor well.

General Zhang is a surrendered general. At that time, the second prince, who had not yet been entrusted with the title of Prince Ding, fought with Zhang Zhen, who had not yet been entrusted with the title of general. One defended and the other attacked, and the stalemate remained. However, as time went by, the stalemate became more and more severe, and General Zhang was trapped in the siege. He became more passive and there was not enough food in the besieged city.

Later, General Zhang Zhen saw that King Ding was brave, good at fighting, majestic, brave and resourceful. He was impressed and led the city to surrender. From then on, he became a fierce general under King Ding. Fighting for years and never retreating.

Later, King Ding rebelled. Well, he couldn't bear the emperor's nephew being deceived by a traitor, so he attacked the Qing monarch in the capital. In the last battle, General Zhang Zhen blocked a knife for King Ding and died.

The power of the dragon is a life-saving grace.

This was one of the few true feelings that the emperor believed in. No wonder the emperor never forgot it later.

The original male protagonist Lin Heng is a smart man, so naturally he will not embarrass himself with this. Moreover, how can a living person win a fight with a dead person?

Therefore, Lin Heng often changed his words and said, "I just wish I had not met the emperor earlier, otherwise I could have worked with General Zhang Zhen." Lin Heng did not dare to compare with General Zhang Zhen. He only wanted to serve the emperor like General Zhang Zhen. Do your best ."

The emperor was grateful for Lin Heng's humility and thoughtfulness, and he used Lin Heng more seriously from then on.

This is all that Zhang Zhen remembers about Li Xiaohan in the original book.

However, what is recorded in the book is only a piece of paper that excerpts one side or serves the protagonist, while the people who live in this time are real people.

Just like my own family, the original book records that my father has died, and my cousin Li Cairong has gained a good reputation for his father's filial piety. I and my mother should be living a hard life at the moment, and one winter later, they will be busy falling into the water.

However, as a living person of flesh and blood, can it be described in just a few sentences in the book?

No, I have flesh and blood, and everything I think, say, and do has my own reasons.

In the same way, we can probably guess that General Zhang Zhen led the city to surrender. Of course, he was impressed by the grace of King Ding, but weren't there other external factors?

Li Xiaohan thought, there should be some. After all, in the end of the siege, all that was needed was logistical food. The besieged city had no supplies. "People eat each other" is recorded in the history books.

However, the identity of Jiang Jiang is actually very sensitive.

In the Chinese culture of monarchs and ministers, there are as many praises and moral requirements for ministers as they are for women. Ministers who serve two masters and women who remarry are not the mainstream values of this dynasty.

Especially since General Zhang Zhen is a degraded general, the situation will be even worse. You can only be loyal and surrender once, and never surrender again, otherwise you will be Lu Bu, a slave with three surnames written in history.

A surrendered general, if he didn't want to be scolded and criticized by thousands of people, he could only follow the person who surrendered. General Zhang Zhen later sacrificed his life to save the savior and proved his loyalty with his life. However, the price is a bit high.

Even so, the title of "Zhongyong" for hanging General Zhang Zhen after his death was rejected by the courtiers, and was only carried out at the emperor's insistence.

General Zhang Zhen, who holds military power, is so passive and tries his best to show his loyalty. Naturally, General Zhang Zhen's family will not be exempted. Because their moral character already has what the world considers to be shortcomings, General Zhang's family members are likely to be extremely low-key and polite, trying their best to gain a good reputation.

At this point, Li Xiaohan also figured out why Mr. Zhang, a noble son, was always so polite despite being extremely powerful.

Although he is controlled by his mother's body, maybe his situation does not allow him to show his power.

He thinks that many people are just pretending, pretending to be gentle and polite, pretending to be approachable. If you pretend too much, it becomes natural.

A sigh.

But there is no use in trying to understand it.

Everyone is in the game, and the path they choose is their own.

She will not feel pity for the second young master Zhang. No matter what, he is still a high-ranking and powerful second young master.

What is your current situation? Pity Mr. Zhang is like me who was oppressed by my boss in my previous life, and pity those capitalists who are unloved.

It is true that you must save yourself quickly.

Zhang Zhen died in the battle between King Ding and the capital. It is possible that such generals would die in the war. Although a small person like himself was hiding in King Ding's lair, he should be safe. But when it comes to war, who can say for sure. It is now the 23rd year of Taihe, and there is not much time left for myself.

As for Mr. Zhang, Li Xiaohan believed that if he jumped out and said more about the plot, Mr. Zhang would probably think that he was crazy. If he didn't think that he was crazy, it would be even worse, and he would probably die. Hold it in your hand.

So, shut up, do your own work, and live your own life.

"Mom, Doctor Zhang is here. I see that he is very cold. Let's make him a bowl of ginger water." Li Xiaohan walked into the kitchen and said.

"You came from Fucheng in such a heavy snowstorm?" Mrs. Wang stood up worriedly, picked up a piece of ginger and washed it.

"No, as a doctor, there is nothing you can do." Li Xiaohan replied as he took out a clay pot and started boiling hot water.

"What Doctor Zhang?" asked Ms. Zhao, who was washing vegetables at the side.

"That's Dr. Zhang from Renhetang." Li Xiaohan grabbed a few more red dates, cut them open and threw them into the water. There is really no saying in this era that men don't eat red dates. They are sweet and nutritious, so there is no way to be picky.

"Oh, that's the doctor from Renhetang." Mrs. Zhao said in surprise, continuing to wash her own dishes, "You really should drink a bowl of ginger water."

Renhetang collects Eucommia ulmoides, and the people of Pingshan Village benefit a lot.

At this time, Wang's ginger was also washed, and Li Xiaohan took it and cut it into very fine strips so that the ginger flavor could be released as quickly as possible.

Throwing the shredded ginger in, the water boiled quickly. Li Xiaohan took out a bag of brown sugar and added brown sugar.

After thinking about it, the journey from Fucheng to here was not short. Riding a horse would take a lot of energy. I guessed that I was cold and hungry, so I cracked a few eggs.

After the water boiled again, Li Xiaohan took out a pottery bowl, filled a large bowl of brown sugar, egg and ginger, and carried it out of the main room.

Mrs. Zhang hasn't woken up yet, and Doctor Zhang is talking to Mr. Zhang and Aunt Zhang. They may be communicating about Mrs. Zhang's situation.

"Doctor Zhang, it's cold, why don't you drink a bowl of brown sugar, egg and ginger." Li Xiaohan stepped forward and said casually.

"Thank you, Miss Li." Doctor Zhang was so grateful that he burst into tears at this moment.

It's too cold. He's not a martial artist. He relies on his righteousness to survive until now. This bowl of brown sugar, egg and ginger is just right for the occasion.

"There are still some in the kitchen. If others want, they can also serve it." Li Xiaohan said, referring to the two guards. Those two ran back and forth continuously in the wind and snow.

As for whether the leader approves it or not, she can't decide. After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, he returned to the kitchen.

But Mr. Zhang probably won't be inaccurate. This man, due to his father's status, is pretending to be a noble son.

Sure enough, Mr. Zhang is not an unkind person, "Doctor Zhang, eat first, thank you for your hard work. Green pines and cypresses, you go down first."

Doctor Zhang didn't care about burning his mouth, picked it up and prepared to eat it.

Before it even enters your mouth, the heat is rolling in. The spiciness of shredded ginger and the sweetness of brown sugar are the warmest aroma at this moment.

It was piping hot in the mouth, so Dr. Zhang took small bites. The shredded ginger was still a little raw, obviously it was taken out as soon as it was cooked, but it was cut very finely, and the spiciness of the ginger was already revealed. Put enough brown sugar and the eggs will be very tender.

Doctor Zhang was speechless after eating.

After eating a large bowl of hot brown sugar ginger, I started to sweat a little, and then the coldness in my body was released.

It feels like the whole person has come alive.

Miss Li is so considerate.

The two guards in the kitchen thought the same way. Miss Li is really so considerate. They are good at martial arts, but they are also afraid of the cold.

After Dr. Zhang finished a bowl of brown sugar, egg and ginger, Mrs. Zhang finally woke up. I think the dosage of this tranquilizer is very well controlled.

"Well." Dr. Zhang pondered while checking his pulse, nodded slightly, and finally retracted his hand with a look of relief on his face, "It's okay. I just suffered a little cold. Madam is very stable and has not disturbed her mood. She can eat and sleep. , is the best way to recuperate the body. I'll prescribe a dose of medicine to prevent the fever tonight. If it's okay tonight, then it'll be okay."

After Dr. Zhang said these words, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. Aunt Jin was about to shed tears, "Madam, you are okay. It's really great."

Aunt Zhang said that she was most afraid of fever when she got cold. My wife was frail and could not bear the fever again. At noon, Madam went to sleep, and she and Aunt Zhang didn't dare to leave. Every half a quarter of an hour they would poke at Madam's forehead, which was really scary.

"You're doing a good job with this medicine. The medicinal materials you brought with you are limited, so you didn't use strong medicine to suppress it. Instead, you calmly dispersed the cold air, and then supplemented it with tranquilizers. When you fell asleep, your body could Adjust yourself." Doctor Zhang turned to Aunt Zhang and said.

"Yes, senior brother." Aunt Zhang showed a little hidden joy.

The two are senior brothers, orphans in the war, and grew up with their master.

When it comes to medical skills, Dr. Zhang, who is usually resident at Renhetang, is naturally more sophisticated. Medical skills are a combination of talent and experience. Dr. Zhang has both, and Aunt Zhang is a Women, in this line of work, have a slight inconvenience.

However, Mrs. Zhang is a woman, and Dr. Zhang is interested in medical skills, so Aunt Zhang usually takes care of Mrs. Zhang.

As for both of them having the surname Zhang, that's really a coincidence. Doctor Zhang and Aunt Zhang took the surname of their master.

Doctor Zhang prescribed the medicine, picked out the appropriate part from the medicinal materials he brought, and the maid Guiyuan went to cook it in a small medicine stove.

After Mrs. Zhang drank the medicine and lay down for a while, she felt better.

At this time, dinner was ready in the Li family kitchen.

"Doctor Zhang, Miss Li said that this pepper pork tripe soup contains pepper, this goat's milk drink has pear paste added, and the pear paste contains Sichuan clams. Please confirm whether Madam can eat it."

Maid Lily said, "This portion is for you, Doctor Zhang."

After all, he was a patient. Li Xiaohan wanted to ask Dr. Zhang if he could eat certain things.

"Everyone can be eaten. These are common medicines and foods. As long as they are not overdosed, there is no problem."

Doctor Zhang also took a bite and said, "Hey, Miss Li is a good cook."

=== Chapter === 54

"What is this?"

After tasting the pork tripe soup and drinking the goat milk slurry drink, Dr. Zhang felt very satisfied. However, the dish in front of him surprised him.

Judging from the shape, this should be a sweet pepper.

Chili peppers can also be made in this way, and paired with this... this is fish.

"Miss Li said, this is pickled cabbage and pepper fish. It tastes very spicy. Let Dr. Zhang and Mr. Zhang give it a try." Lily added, "This dish, Miss Li said, is very spicy, so I don't have it." To Madam."

I always feel that Madam might want to eat it even more.

"Well, this dish is indeed inedible to you." Doctor Zhang said as he raised his chopsticks and was eager to try it. He is a doctor, so he naturally knows the effect of pepper and also remembers the taste of pepper.

It's very curious that Miss Li can create such a combination. Doctor Zhang felt like Shen Nong tasting hundreds of herbs.

He was cautiously and eagerly preparing to pick up a piece of chili pepper, but was unexpectedly interrupted by the maid.

"Doctor Zhang, you can't eat these peppers. What you eat is the fish meat and the sauerkraut underneath." Lily interrupted without saying anything.

At that time, Ms. Li thought it was superfluous when she said it. Unexpectedly, Ms. Li knew Dr. Zhang. Dr. Zhang really wanted to taste everything. What kind of weirdo was he?

Whenever Li Xiaohan knew what Lily was thinking, he would have to reply, "Of course, I watched Dr. Zhang taste Eucommia ulmoides before my eyes."

"It's okay, I'll just give it a try." Unexpectedly, despite being reminded in advance, Doctor Zhang still persisted.

Lily's eyes widened.

"Well, it's not delicious, dry and spicy." Doctor Zhang vomited it out quickly.

Who is it? Lily complained in her heart.

"Cough, cough, cough." Doctor Zhang covered his mouth. The dregs of the medicine are indeed inedible. He is a doctor, so he can just try it.

Doctor Zhang took a sip of the goat's milk milk to regain his composure, then picked up a piece of fish and slowly savored the taste.

Well, it seems pretty good. Let's try it again.

Seeing Doctor Zhang enjoying his meal, Lily went into the kitchen and served the food to her son and his wife.

"Is this something I can't eat?"

Mrs. Zhang slept all afternoon, took medicine, and now she rested for a while doing nothing. She was in good spirits. I heard that among so many dishes, this was the only one she couldn't eat. Curiosity arose.

"Yes, madam, Doctor Zhang and Miss Li both said that you can't eat this." Lily rejected his wife very righteously.

"Is that so? Why?" Mrs. Zhang was very interested.

"I heard that peppers from the Western Regions are used, which makes it spicy." Lily recalled what Li Xiaohan and Dr. Zhang said.

"It comes from the Western Regions. Pepper and other spices were also introduced from the Western Regions back then." Mrs. Zhang sighed.

Mrs. Zhang, who came from the Western Regions, was even more curious. Miss Li actually knew how to cook with hot peppers from the Western Regions. Could this be another pepper?

"Cheng'an, try it quickly and tell me how it feels." I can't eat it, but my son can.

Zhang Fu was stared at by his mother, so he could only choose a bite of fish and put it into his mouth carefully.

"Cough cough", Zhang Fu's cough was a little weaker than that of Doctor Zhang.

"Sir, take a sip of that goat's milk drink." Lily said quickly from the side.

"No," Zhang Fu waved his hand and refused, resisting the spiciness, and then chewed carefully to distinguish the taste, "First it feels very spicy in the mouth, and then it is sour. Well, the fish fillet is very thin. It's very tender and doesn't have that fishy smell anymore. It's very appetizing and exciting."

In order to taste the true taste of a dish, this person had to endure the spiciness, chew it carefully, and finally say one, two, three, four, five.

"That's it." Mrs. Zhang seemed to know her son's character very well, with a look of regret on her face, "It's a pity that I can't eat it. It sounds very novel. There are always some fresh things in the Western Regions. I think back then, I I also invited a group of businessmen from Silk Road for drinks and made an investment, but unfortunately no one has come back now. I wonder if this investment can be recovered in my lifetime?"

What's even more pity is that now I'm not in good health and can't even try a pepper.

"Mom, what are you saying about being frustrated? You can't eat peppers. You can try this goat's milk syrup. I think it should suit your taste."

While Mrs. Zhang was recalling the new things in the Western Regions and feeling a little nostalgic for the present, Zhang Fu picked up the goat's milk milk and changed the subject.

Although it is not the first time to drink ginger milk, I somehow feel that it should be delicious.

Zhang Fu tried it himself first, and sure enough, the taste was smooth and mellow, which was indeed the usual standard. His mother likes sweets, so she should like it.

Mrs. Zhang's focus was shifted. She took a sip of the goat's milk milk. It was indeed very delicious.

Now that I've tried the goat's milk drink, it's natural to start eating. The pork ribs are alternately fat and lean, steamed very well, and the lean tofu meatballs are very delicate...

Especially with the current environment, it has a fresh and simple flavor. There are some ingenious ideas that are very touching.

After finishing the meal, Mrs. Zhang glanced at the finished bowls and chopsticks, and a flash of contemplation flashed in her eyes. Although her son didn't say anything, he finished the bowl of fish with pickled pepper and pickled vegetables without making a sound.

It can be seen that it is really delicious.

Here, Mrs. Zhang, Zhang Fu and Doctor Zhang gave a satisfactory evaluation of Li Xiaohan's craftsmanship. In the kitchen, Li Xiaohan ate very happily, which can be said to be full of joy.

It's so sour and refreshing.

Sure enough, it must taste like this.

Zhao's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law also tried this sweet pepper dish. Ma and Han accepted it well, but Zhao didn't like it very much.

"It's just that young people like them." Wang said with a smile.

"That's right, we are getting older. After all, it's not that good." Zhao responded.

Especially because it consumes a lot of oil, there are layers of oil splatter, and the soup is so watery that you haven't finished drinking it. This is absolutely unacceptable in Mr. Zhao's eyes.

After eating, Zhao and others had to help wash the dishes before they could go home.

Zhao's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are very willing to do this.

Ten taels of silver.

I just helped deliver vegetables and help for a few days, and I got so much money.

Sure enough, Xiaohan still missed his family and took them with him whenever he had the opportunity to make money. You have to do a better job and don't make it difficult for Xiaohan. Mrs. Zhao said to herself, washing the dishes and chopsticks more carefully.

Li Xiaohan didn't know what Zhao was thinking, she just raised her eyebrows at the pile of dishes that Master Zhang and Doctor Zhang had finished eating.

It seems that some people adapt well.

After dinner, make arrangements for accommodation:

It remains unchanged that Li Xiaohan and his family live in the east room;

There are two main rooms on the west side, one for Mrs. Zhang and the other for Mr. Zhang, just right;

Among the eight guards, one Qingzhu was left to guard the young master's room, and the other seven were all placed at Dashu's house next door;

Of the four maids, two kept vigil for the lady, and two occupied an east wing, taking turns to rest;

Aunt Jin and Aunt Zhang squeezed together and occupied an east wing room. Logically speaking, Aunt Jin had a maid to take care of her, but there was nothing that could be done about it;

Doctor Zhang is a doctor after all. If anything unexpected happens, he must be there, so he has an exclusive east wing room.

At this point, all the empty rooms in Li Xian's house have been used. Compared with Zhang's house, it is definitely crowded and inconvenient, but it is much better than the ice and snow. If the horse is frightened and runs into the wilderness somewhere, it is really much better.

The night gradually deepened, and the snow stopped for a while in the middle of the night. In the morning, it began to fall again.

Li Xiaohan woke up early and saw Luoxue, feeling a little disappointed. The people in the Zhang family were a little disappointed when they saw Luoxue. People on both sides continue to get along.

Today's breakfast is lean meat porridge, with stir-fried cabbage, dried vegetable stew, and scallion pancakes. Dessert is egg stewed in milk. Dr. Zhang and Mr. Zhang also have a small plate of half-dried spicy radish.

Let the green bamboo cutter with the best knife skills cut the lean meat very thinly, and the light can be discerned. Add shredded ginger, egg white, green salt and a little icing sugar and mix well. When the porridge in the casserole is almost ready, pour out the skin of the meat. Go in, stir a few times, add chopped green onion to taste, and then serve it out.

Due to Qingzhu's excellent knife skills, today's lean meat porridge was beyond the usual standard of the Li family. The meat slices basically did not require much chewing. The aroma of rice and meat were perfectly harmonious, and everyone ate without raising their heads. ,

In the morning on a cold day, if you eat a bowl of hot meat porridge with spicy dried radish pickled by Li Xiaohan, you only need a little bit. It will be a hearty and filling meal. My belly is warm and my heart is warm again.

The relationship between the Li family and the Zhang family is somewhat harmonious. Sure enough, food is a catalyst for human relationships.

The only person who was not completely conquered by the breakfast and was still dissatisfied was Mrs. Zhang. This was dissatisfying because there were some things she couldn't eat, such as the spicy dried radish pickled with paprika this morning.

It looks very delicious. Look at how crispy your son's bite is. He takes a bite of spicy dried radish, then takes a sip of porridge, and then takes another bite of scallion-flavored sesame pancakes, occasionally using chopsticks. Pork or stewed meat.

It's been a long time since Mrs. Zhang saw her son eating so deliciously, and it's been a long time since she felt so hungry, and her illness was so annoying.

"Is it delicious?"

Zhang Fu looked blank, and the words he almost blurted out paused on the tip of his tongue, and then changed his words, "It's just novelty. Mom, you can't eat it. The more you look at it, the more delicious it becomes."

"Really? I don't think it's like this." Mrs. Zhang squinted her eyes, doubtful, and sighed, "novelty is good, there are several novelties in the world, I want to try it too Ah. Doctor Zhang said I really can't eat it?"

It was Aunt Jin who knew Mrs. Zhang. When she was young, she followed the master all over the country. Later, something happened, and Mrs. Zhang's health gradually became worse. However, there was no problem near Fucheng; but she became seriously ill. In the past six months, I have only been to Renhe Hall once, and since then I have been lying in the General's Mansion, and now I am trapped in this small room again.

Madam, this is boring.

Aunt Jin thought for a while and said: "Madam, why don't you ask Miss Li to come and chat with you later. I see that Miss Li is quick at work and smart in mind. We have not officially settled in with the owner when we move into the Li family." I said hello."

Yesterday, Grandma Jin accompanied my wife. When she came out, she found that Li Xiaohan had arranged her people to be obedient as if cutting through the mess with a sharp knife. Send out what should be sent out, and keep what should be kept.

In the morning, I found the maid washing vegetables clumsily, and the guards cutting meat with flying knives.

Aunt Jin was angry and convinced at the same time.

What makes me angry is why among the maids and guards in my family, there is no one who can take charge of the overall situation. Aren't you very skilled in martial arts at home? Why do you lose your mind when something happens and just listen to Li Xiaohan's command?

What convinced me was how could the Li family be so good at giving birth to a daughter? Grandma Wang Jin had seen it and found out that she was just an ordinary peasant woman, how could she give birth to such a spirited daughter.

"Okay. After breakfast and dinner, if it's convenient, please invite Miss Li to come over. Just say that I'm not feeling well and can't leave the room, so I invite her to come over and have a chat." Mrs. Zhang said.

As for why they didn't invite Mrs. Wang, Grandma Jin and Mrs. Zhang had already learned from Dr. Zhang that Mrs. Wang was pregnant, so it would be difficult to meet again. After all, Mrs. Zhang is a patient. I heard that Wang's pregnancy was not easy to come by. Li Xiaohan is already so old, so she should be more careful when she is pregnant with her second child.

So, half an hour later, Li Xiaohan, who had just finished breakfast, heard that Mrs. Zhang was inviting someone.

Li Xiaohan sighed in his heart, ancient people and modern people are all the same. Qian Zhongshu Everyone is right. After eating an egg, modern people want to see the hen that laid the egg. When ancient people ate delicious food, they wanted to see the person who cooked it.

After arranging his clothes, Li Xiaohan thought that although he was wearing coarse cotton clothes, which were not even comparable to those worn by the maids of the Li family, they were clean and tidy and not embarrassing, so he walked into the west room with his head held high.

The first time he saw Mrs. Zhang's face, Li Xiaohan was shocked: This is a real patient, because real patients are like this. The skin loses moisture and becomes pale or sallow; Blood color, skin sticking to the bones, eyes sunken.

There is no beauty in real patients. There is no beauty in the feeling of losing vitality when one is seriously ill.

Li Xiaohan knew what a real patient looked like, because in her previous life, she could not accept the death of her parents all at once. She once took a year off from school and lived in the hospital for more than half a month, and then went back and forth to the hospital for treatment for most of her life. half a year.

The psychological illness, excessive sadness, inability to sleep, and the worsening physical condition led to the physical illness. I thought it was just a common cold, but it turned out to be acute myocarditis, and I was admitted to the ICU.

She has seen too many patients in the hospital, including herself, and has seen her own face in the mirror many times, accidentally or intentionally.

Later, a psychiatrist intervened for treatment, and his parents' last message that he wanted to live a good life, as well as the help of his teachers and friends, supported Li Xiaohan to finally stand up.

After experiencing life and death, we understand better that living, living well, cherishing every day and living well are the greatest rewards for love and yourself.

However, what was rare was that Mrs. Zhang's eyes did not contain the dead air and resentment that patients often have.

After being ill for a long time, it is easy to lose the interest in life, and the eyes are as silent as stagnant water without any waves; or, the illness breeds resentment, and often feels that God is unfair, why am I so unlucky, and the eyes can't help complaining and resenting .

In short, anything is possible.

But Mrs. Zhang's eyes were a little bored, a little curious, and more calm and calm. I have seen the joys and sorrows of life and death, and then return to the calmness and calmness that I persist in.

Li Xiaohan suddenly felt that he had a sense of admiration for Mrs. Zhang. Such patients in the ward are very rare. If a person can endure physical pain and maintain peace of mind, then she must be a very strong person.

For such a person, don't treat her as a patient, treat her as an ordinary person. This is the only way to respect both parties.

When Mrs. Zhang first saw Li Xiaohan, she felt that Li Xiaohan had a very good temperament. This kind of demeanor was first noticed the moment Li Xiaohan walked in. His steps were light, his shoulders were straight, his face was calm, and his eyes were surprised at first, and then became normal, as if he was just visiting someone. Just like ordinary elders.

You can understand why you are surprised. After all, Mrs. Zhang has seen her look like this, and it is indeed quite surprising.

However, it quickly became commonplace, and Mrs. Zhang became very fond of it. After she got sick, she didn't like other people's caution. If possible, she actually hoped that everything would be as normal, as if she just had a minor illness. She would take medicine and treat it well. One day, she would finally get better. .

Mrs. Zhang expressed her thoughts like this, "It's Miss Li, right? Come and sit down."

Mrs. Zhang pointed to the bamboo stool next to her kang. It was the bamboo stool of the Li family. Standing at the back to wait, Zhang Fu had returned to another main room in the west room to avoid taboos.

But no one knew that Zhang Fu was also sitting on the same bamboo stool in the next room.

Even though he was the only one in the room, Zhang Fu's back was straight and he did not relax because of it. However, the mask of the noble master was no longer on his face. At this time, his face was full of thoughts, but there was no joy or anger.

After pretending for too long, thinking too much, the mask has penetrated into the bone marrow and blood, and it is no longer possible to distinguish between the real self and the false self. When alone, it seems to be a blank, with no own preferences, and it seems that the real person cannot be touched.

Zhang Fu had no intention of eavesdropping, but according to the sound insulation of the Li family's house and Zhang Fu's hearing ability, Zhang Fu could hear the voices of everyone in Mrs. Zhang's room quite clearly at this moment. For example, at this moment Zhang Fu heard his mother asking Li Xiaohan to sit down.

Li Xiaohan sat down on the bamboo stool next to Mrs. Zhang's Kang.

However, Zhang Fu doesn't want to go out at the moment. The Li family is too small and there are people everywhere. Zhang Fu needs to take off his disguise and think about something.

"Have I really caused you trouble in the past two days?" Mrs. Zhang first apologized.

I heard that there were only three people in the Li family, and there were more than ten people in my group, which almost overwhelmed the Li family.

Although Mrs. Zhang has not seen it in person, she can imagine this situation.

Therefore, Mrs. Zhang's apology for causing trouble is truly knowing that she has caused trouble to others.

"Fortunately, there is a little trouble, but there is nothing we can do. Fortunately, everything is settled." For people like Mrs. Zhang, Li Xiaohan told the truth.

Aunt Jin's mouth twitched slightly behind her, but Miss Li was still so sincere.

Mrs. Zhang laughed when she heard this, "Yes, fortunately we have settled down. I heard that Lily and the others almost burned down your stove?"

Lily was the maid who lit the fire yesterday and served tea and water on weekdays.

"It's Miss Lily and the others who are not used to it. In fact, Miss Lily and the others are quite capable."

They are really capable. It is said that they are all first- and second-class maids. According to Li Xiaohan's understanding from watching TV series, these first- and second-class maids may also be served by little maids on weekdays.

However, there were four lotus seeds, lilies, longan and wolfberry. Yes, these were the names of Mrs. Zhang's four maids. Li Xiaohan finally remembered their names and distinguished the four of them. Even though he was not used to it, he didn't complain too much. , working hard in the humble environment of the Li family.

For example, this morning's breakfast, this bowl of eggs stewed in milk, Lotus Seed carefully removed the egg bubbles. Of course Li Xiaohan knew that the eggs stewed in this way would be more tender and smooth, and the finished product would be more delicious. Beautiful and delicious. Lianzi found his use here very carefully.

It is said that things are similar to their masters, so it turns out that the principles are the same all over the world.

"They are quite good. I heard that you are teaching them how to make desserts. Do you know that this is a secret recipe?" Mrs. Zhang asked.

"It's not a secret recipe, it's just a novelty. In fact, madam, you should have tasted it. It is a combination of goat milk and various things. Moreover, madam, you have paid money." Li Xiaohan replied, collecting money to do things, she is Very professional ethics.

Mrs. Zhang smiled. Indeed, due to her illness, she would not let her eat anything she couldn't eat. "But novelty is also very good. How did you come up with it?"

"I just like to eat well and wear good clothes. If I want to live a better life, there is always a way." Li Xiaohan said, "There are many things. If you try them, you will always find something."

Li Xiaohan guessed that Mrs. Zhang was sick and bored. It was too cold to leave the room.

So, Li Xiaohan told Mrs. Zhang about the wild vegetables he had eaten at home, the tenderness of shepherd's purse, the smoothness of ground fungus, and the fragrance of fresh mushrooms.

He talks about how her mother adjusted the heat over and over again in order to fry the fish even more crispy, and how she got it just right.

It is said that in order to make better cakes with limited materials, Mrs. Zhao worked hard and kneaded the dough over and over again.

It is said that the second uncle kills the New Year pig, and his cousin Hehua and his two nephews Dou Geer and Gua Geer hide and peek, but they are blocked by the second uncle every year.

It is said that Brother Dou likes to eat pig lungs, so his mother Ma and his father Li Jiajin fish them out of the bowl for him.

…

In Li Xiaohan's crisp narration, this Pingshan village seemed to be unveiled in front of everyone. It was so vivid and real. Suddenly, it was not just ordinary names, but every person who worked hard to live. Better people.

Of course, it's not all happy. For example, the uncle next door picked a pear and fell, and the auntie passed away just like that.

Then, the cotton comb she made was easily copied. She wanted to make something better, but she couldn't figure it out.

Mrs. Zhang listened with rapt attention. When she talked about braised small fish with shepherd's purse and sauerkraut, she looked like she wanted to eat it; when she talked about lotus, beans and melons, She laughed heartily; when she talked about Uncle Dashu's family, her face was full of sighs and sadness; when she talked about cotton combing, her face was thoughtful...

Aunt Jin behind her wiped the corners of her eyes.

Zhang Fu, who was next door, was slightly lost in thought. His whole body was no longer so tense. His back was finally close to the back of the chair.

"That's it, life always has its bitterness and sweetness, but when you say it, it always makes people feel that life is so good." Mrs. Zhang said with emotion.

Looking closely at Li Xiaohan, he seems to be quite satisfied with the life here, with a smile on his face and no dissatisfaction.

It's just that Miss Li is thirteen years old after all. Such a pretty and smart girl, in this small mountain village, when she reaches her age, she is matched by her parents, and then she takes care of the men and children, surrounding her. Three meals a day are like a waste of money, and the pearl is buried in the dust.

Mrs. Zhang felt regretful and asked, "I heard you said that the cotton comb was imitated. Are you planning to target Fanjiao?"

Li Xiaohan's eyes widened slightly, but he regained his composure. Everyone is a smart person. I have been having hot peppers for the past two days and wanted to test everyone's acceptance. Mrs. Zhang guessed that it was normal.

"Mrs. Zhang, you saw it. That's what I thought, but I haven't found a way yet. Not many people like the taste of this thing. Everyone seems to just like it as a novelty. I brewed some pepper wine. , that one is quite popular, but the wine is too expensive and our family can't afford it."

After all, novelty cannot last forever. To do a chili business, everyone still has to like to eat it and be accustomed to using it every day.

Many people like wine, but this thing is a bit sensitive, and Li Xiaohan doesn't dare to take action easily without any background.

"I keep calling you Miss Li. Can I ask, what is your name?" Mrs. Zhang suddenly asked.

"My name is Li Xiaohan." Li Xiaohan was a little surprised, but he still answered.

"Small cold is good. After the minor cold, there will be a big cold. After the big cold, spring will come."

Mrs. Zhang's interpretation was very interesting. It was obviously Xiaohan who was born on Xiaohan day.

But what Li Xiaohan likes about this interpretation is the feeling of the famous saying of later generations: "Winter is coming, can spring be far behind?"

Moreover, it is true that after all the cold winter, spring will finally come.

"Xiaohan, I have an idea that can help you sell chili wine. Do you want to try it? But I boast that I myself have gone through some experience and have gained some experience. Do you want to try it? Give it a try?" Mrs. Zhang asked with a smile.

"Okay. But what price do I need to pay for Mrs. Zhang's idea? You know, there is no free lunch in this world."

Unfortunately, Li Xiaohan refused to be fooled easily.

"Hahaha, I just like your words. There is no free lunch in the world when doing business."

Mrs. Zhang burst out laughing, the happiest she had laughed in the past two days, "In the past two days, my son has always been eating hot peppers in front of me to eat me. I want to eat one too. It's something unique. I can't." You can't give them two of the ones you've eaten."

What Mrs. Zhang is thinking is that there are so many delicious things in this world, such as wild shepherd's purse and fungus. I have never heard of them. They seem very interesting. I want to try them.

"Sure, it's settled." Li Xiaohan responded crisply.

With five thousand years of food culture, she couldn't believe that she couldn't pick out just one.

=== Chapter === 55

Although Mrs. Zhang modestly believed that she only had "some experience" and "came up with ideas," Li Xiaohan did not look down upon her.

Her shortcoming is that her understanding of the world is too shallow. She understands the background of the plot, but she does not understand the structure and rules of how this society operates.

Especially since she acts as a woman, she cannot handle it according to the original male protagonist's visual standards. After all, the world's constraints on women are much stronger than those on men.

It is possible to lead villagers to sell medicinal materials and agricultural products, and there is basically no risk. However, if he wants to open a shop or other things, Li Xiaohan will have too little information.

Moreover, their family background is weak, and if they are not careful, it may be a disaster. Therefore, on the road of development, we must be more careful, more cautious, and more cautious. We would rather do less than make mistakes.

At this time, Mrs. Zhang, who had been in charge of Renhe Hall as a woman, her idea was the most suitable for her.

In order to win over Mrs. Zhang as a strategic investor, we should pile up the most chips.

But, with so many options to choose from, what are the options? Li Xiaohan searched in his brain.

First of all, we exclude some extremely wealthy dishes. According to the standard of Tongfu Restaurant, Mrs. Zhang must have seen many wealthy menus in this world. This kind of cuisine is to use one's own shortcomings to attack the enemy's strong points. One is rejected.

Secondly, some very strange dishes, such as ground fungus, Mrs. Zhang will probably find it novel, but they are not enough to express herself. So what she can get from Mrs. Zhang is the advice she said, which may be quite satisfactory. Li Xiaohan's suggestion was that he wanted surprises and wanted more.

According to the observations in the past two days, Mrs. Zhang likes new things. Because she is in poor health, she likes sweet food, which can bring pleasure and calories to people.

Li Xiaohan slowly smiled and found it.

What could be better than a cream cake. There is no similar food that can be so sweet, so soft, and so touching the hearts of most people.

Although in this era, there is no butter, no low-gluten and high-gluten flour, and no oven.

But as long as there is a whipping process to achieve that fluffy and soft texture, it will have the same effect as the king of fried dough.

Thanks to the era when short videos were rampant in his previous life, when Li Xiaohan was out of school trying to find the joy of life, he watched so many short videos such as "Homemade Whipped Cream" and "Homemade Chiffon Cake", and he was bored. Perseverance in learning has led to success.

After deciding what to do, Li Xiaohan started to prepare. However, before that, he still had to prepare lunch.

After a day and night of observation, Li Xiaohan has found the best use of Zhang's guards, that is: pounding meatballs.

What could be more suitable for pounding meatballs than this group of guards who are physically strong and highly skilled in martial arts.

there is none left.

Qingzhu stood on the chopping board, sliced open a large grass carp with thick arms, then cut out the meat on both sides, picked out the spines, peeled off the skin of the fish, and finally put the clean skinless fish meat and the cut fish into pieces. Put the skull and fish bones into two basins respectively.

Under the green bamboo, Qingsong took the clean skinless fish meat and used Li's rolling pin to beat it hard until the fish meat was smashed and the remaining fascia was picked out.

There were three big grass carps today, one of which was left over from Li Xiandong's family, and the other two were sent over by the patriarch's family.

Next to the fish meatball team is the pork meatball team. The combination of this pair is to cut the meat with green locust and beat with green cypress.

Finally, the meat that has been pounded until it is rotten will be sent to Ma. Ma holds a large pot with half a pot of warm water, and keeps rolling the meat into balls and putting them in.

Standing next to the big pot is Guiyuan, who is responsible for helping Ma, such as watching the pot to prevent the meatballs from sticking together, and using a wooden spatula to turn the meatballs.

The uses of maids are more difficult than that of guards, because they are good at different things.

Especially when Li Xiaohan learned in the morning that Lianzi was good at massage and that Lianzi would massage Mrs. Zhang's head when she had a headache, he immediately put Lianzi out of the kitchen.

Such hands should be maintained by applying ointment every day. They should be soft and warm, and must not be rough.

And Lily is good at making tea. Such hands, as thin as a weeping willow and as tender as green onions, are the most beautiful, and they can't be seen.

What a sin. Before, they actually thought that Lily could make tea and light a fire. Then Lily was successfully elected as the fire maker. Of course, the Li family's kitchen was almost burned down.

Wolfberry's unique skill is embroidery, which is the role of Qingwen in Dream of Red Mansions. Li Xiaohan sighed, such hands should be protected as cultural heritage.

Guiyuan, Guiyuan is very complicated. She is good at writing and arithmetic. She is responsible for Mrs. Zhang's private treasury. Her status is similar to that of the mandarin duck next to Jia Mu. She is a first-class confidant, silent but vaguely the head of the maids.

Originally, after the guards joined, people were already doing the work of cutting meat, pounding balls, chopping wood and chopping bones. With the help of Zhao's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, there was no shortage of people for all kinds of work. Li Xiaohan originally thought of not using all four maids.

However, it was strange that after they went back to discuss it themselves, they went to ask for Mrs. Zhang's instructions and came over with longan, and then all the other maids went back to serve Mrs. Zhang.

I don't know if it's because there is no private treasury to manage for the time being, or because the maid Guiyuan is opening up new territories.

Anyway, Guiyuan seems to be quite stable now, and it doesn't look like it was sent to the frontier.

Li Xiaohan and others didn't dare to let her do heavy work, but Guiyuan didn't say anything and just did whatever they asked her to do. It was obvious that she was not skilled, but she was serious.

Today's lunch is tofu and fish soup. The remaining head, tail and bones are first fried until fragrant, then boiling hot water is added, so that the soup is milky white, and tofu is added last.

People often say that thousands of rolls of tofu are like thousands of rolls of fish, which means that when the tofu is rolled out, the inside becomes honeycomb-like. The tofu and fish are perfectly blended together, fresh, sweet and with the rare mellowness of fish soup.

Such a large pot of soup is enough for everyone to eat a bowl.

Then there is a chicken stewed with chestnuts. Half-year-old pullets and chestnuts from this autumn complement each other perfectly.

There is nothing I can do about vegetables. At this time, there are not many types of vegetables, so I can only give Mrs. Zhang a shredded radish and egg.

The guards' knife skills are really good, and the shredded radish was cut just right, with the same thickness and size.

This is what is said about having too many skills but not too much.

As for dessert, because he planned to make cream cakes, he did not use goat milk at noon. Li Xiaohan served Mrs. Zhang three on a small plate from the persimmons that were dried this autumn at home.

On a small stoneware plate, three golden round persimmons were placed. The surface of the persimmons was covered with white frost, giving them a sense of simplicity and simplicity.

Li Xiaohan asked Lily to make a cup of hot tea and serve it together. The tea was fragrant now, and a mouthful of hot tea paired with a mouthful of sweet persimmon cakes had a unique taste.

After lunch, Li Xiaohan prepared cream cake.

Because of the need to keep it secret, there were only three people from the Li family left in the kitchen at this time. It's not that I don't believe Mrs. Zhao and the others, but if Mrs. Zhang likes this thing, then maybe Mrs. Zhang wants to buy the secret recipe, which is not suitable for too many people to know.

Li Xiaohan prepared today's goat's milk and a small bowl of white vinegar. He first put the goat's milk in a clay pot and heated it over low heat until there were small bubbles. Then he stopped the fire and added white vinegar while stirring. Mix the goat's milk complex protein and After the whey is separated, after a few minutes, the goat milk will slowly separate into flocculent protein that looks like soft tofu. Use a piece of clean cotton cloth to drain out the flocculent protein without making it too dry.

The drained goat milk protein was placed in a large deep pottery bowl and handed to Li Xiandong along with a pair of chopsticks. "Dad, just do this, stir as hard as possible, the faster the better. Just wait until I say it's okay."

"It's done." Li Xiandong took it and obediently began to stir it vigorously, leaving only the afterimage with a pair of chopsticks.

After assigning the task of whipping cream to Li Xiandong, Li Xiaohan took out three more eggs, separated the egg whites from the egg whites, added a little white vinegar to the egg whites and gave it to Wang, and warned, "Mom, just like dad, keep stirring. That's it. Just take it slow and stop if you feel uncomfortable. I'll come and take over for you when I'm ready for other tasks."

"Okay, I get it." Wang nodded. It was just a matter of stirring, just sit down and do it.

After handing the egg white to Mr. Wang, Li Xiaohan took out the wheat flour at home. At this time, there was no distinction between low-gluten, medium-gluten and high-gluten flour. Li Xiaohan vaguely remembered that unprocessed wheat flour was probably similar to medium-gluten flour. Although the flour ratio cannot make it completely soft and fluffy, it can still be used.

Use a small sieve to sift the flour carefully again to get the finest flour possible.

After the flour is prepared, add oil, milk and flour, stir, and finally add the egg yolk at the beginning, stir in a zigzag pattern until smooth and flowing, and set aside.

After preparing these, Li Xiaohan took the egg whites from Wang's hand and continued to stir, occasionally adding a little bit of icing sugar to Li Xiandong or himself. After about an hour, the chopsticks finally had small sharp corners, and the egg white frost became .

Li Xiaohan slowly added the egg white cream to the previous batter, stirred evenly, then put it into a large pottery bowl, covered the mouth of the big pottery bowl with a plate, and put it into the pot to steam over high heat.

At this time, Li Xiandong's cream was almost formed. Li Xiaohan tasted it and found that it was still a bit thick and needed to be finer.

"Dad, we have to keep beating." Li Xiaohan said in embarrassment. Her hands were already sore from just stirring the egg whites, not to mention her father, "We will take turns."

Li Xiandong smiled naively, "I can hold on for a while longer."

This thing is so tiring.

While the cake was steaming, the family of three took turns whipping the cream. Slowly, a faint aroma wafted out of the pot.

The vague fragrance and sweetness, like a small hook, slowly bring back the sweetest and most beautiful memories in people's hearts.

"It smells so good." In the side room, Lily took a deep breath and said slowly, "What kind of fragrance is this? It seems to be eggs and goat's milk. Is there anything else?"

"I can't smell it, but it looks delicious." Lianzi answered.

"I heard that Madam told Ms. Li that if Ms. Li makes something unique for Madam, I will give Ms. Li some business advice. Do you think this kind of fragrance is considered unique?"

"It smells pretty good. I wonder if it counts if you eat it?" It was Lianzi who spoke.

Guiyuan next to him looked slightly thoughtful.

The maids in the east wing were discussing, and Zhao's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, who were preparing things outside the kitchen, were also talking in low voices;

"Such a fragrance has never happened before. There are no dim sum shops in the city that are so fragrant. I wonder if Xiaohan can do it?" Ma said.

The agreement between Li Xiaohan and Mrs. Zhao is not a secret. The Li family's house is also small, and there are so many people, everyone is bored. Li Xiaohan and the three of them had been bored in the kitchen for so long, and they knew everything they should know and shouldn't know.

At this moment, Dr. Zhang felt a little depressed. He originally thought that he was not a particularly foody person. It was not surprising that Mrs. Zhang wanted to eat well after being ill for a long time.

But now, Dr. Zhang was thinking about whether he should help Mrs. Zhang to try it first and take a bite.

This is also consistent with my status as a doctor.

Compared with Dr. Zhang's confusion, Mrs. Zhang is particularly looking forward to it.

She had woken up from noon to the scent, and had had enough sleep. Now she was in good spirits and a little hungry.

"Such a fragrance seems to be worth looking forward to." Mrs. Zhang said with a smile, "I feel like Miss Li takes my suggestions very seriously."

"What did Madam say? Of course Madam's suggestion deserves caution. I heard that Miss Li's family of three stayed in the kitchen all afternoon."

As she spoke, Aunt Jin helped Mrs. Zhang up and stuffed a pillow behind her to cushion Mrs. Zhang's back.

"How much longer?" Mrs. Zhang asked.

"I'll ask someone to ask." Aunt Jin replied, "Woqi, go and ask Miss Li how much time she has left. Madam is awake." At this time, it was Gou Qi who was in charge of the room.

"Don't rush, let Miss Li take her time. Good things are worth waiting for." Mrs. Zhang warned.

"Yes, ma'am."

Wolfberry went out for a while and then came back, "Madam, Miss Li said it will be ready in a quarter of an hour, and asked you to prepare the tea you like."

"Then let Lily come in."

A quarter of an hour later, Li Xiaohan entered Mrs. Zhang's room carrying a small cream cake.

=== Chapter === 56

From the perspective of future generations, this little cake is really crude.

Pure white cream paste, without a piping bag, and I couldn't find clean oil paper at the moment, so I could only scrape a few pieces of cream on it as decoration.

There are no fresh colors, but luckily there are apples at Uncle Dashu's house. Li Xiaohan took the trouble to cut the green bamboo with the best knife into thin slices. The red apple skin is on top, and is as thin as a cicada in a circle, so it doesn't look too big. monotonous.

Of course, Li Xiaohan looked at it from the perspective of future generations. In fact, in the eyes of Mrs. Zhang, Grandma Jin and other natives, this cake was quite beautiful;

First of all, the color scheme is very beautiful. The red and white complement each other. Secondly, the look of this cake is very special. I have never seen anything like it. What does it look like? Well, it looks like something from heaven. Baiyun, the whitest and softest kind.

"I heard that you have been messing around in the kitchen for two hours. It looks very nice. Is this a kind of snack? What is its name?"

Li Xiaohan smiled and explained: "Madam, this is called a cake. It is made of goat's milk, eggs and flour. Madam, please give it a try and give me some advice on whether it is unique and worth it."

Li Xiaohan invited Mrs. Zhang to taste it.

She steamed two cakes and tried them, and there were no mistakes or overturns. The cream was very fragrant, soft, and smooth, and the cake was fluffy and sweet. In Wang's words, "It looks like clouds and tastes like clouds." Also like clouds."

Mrs. Zhang picked up the spoon, and at Li Xiaohan's signal, scooped out a spoonful of cake and gently put it into her mouth.

At that moment, even though they had different origins, different experiences, and different statuses, Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Wang may have had a common language. Why do I say that? Because the expressions of the two people are very similar, both are a little erratic.

This cake is indeed like a cloud.

Soft and gentle like clouds, sweet and fragrant like clouds.

It's something I've never imagined, a dream-like taste.

After being stunned for a breath, Mrs. Zhang finally reacted, then took another bite of the cake, and then took a sip...

Simply can not stop.

Seeing that most of the cake was gone quickly, Aunt Jin gently reminded Mrs. Zhang, "Madam, no matter what it is, it is better to have it in moderation."

At that moment, there was obvious struggle and regret in Mrs. Zhang's eyes, and then slowly turned into calmness and restraint. Finally, she pursed her lips with a handkerchief, took a sip of tea, and said in a clear voice: "What I regret most now is The thing is, my body can't eat enough in one sitting. But in order to eat more times in the future, I can only tell myself to stop."

Aunt Jin and Lily looked on, and it was very clear to them. There was no doubt that this thing called cake must be very suitable to Madam's taste, otherwise Madam would not eat it without saying a word.

But I didn't expect that Madam could say it so straightforwardly.

How many delicacies of the mountains and seas have the lady eaten? Besides, there are no rare and exotic fruits in Pingshan Village, just ordinary cakes made of eggs and goat's milk. How can the lady say such a thing?

However, Mrs. Zhang did not explain any more, but said to Li Xiaohan, "Miss Li, I really didn't expect that you would give me such a surprise."

Li Xiaohan smiled slowly, "Madam, if I can win your favor, then my hard work today will be worth it."

"You know, originally I wanted to talk to you about your pepper wine, but now I can't wait and want to talk to you about your cake. Xiaohan, you want this cake? Don't want to sell the secret recipe? How much are you going to sell it for?" Mrs. Zhang asked with a smile.

"Madam, how much do you think my cake is worth? That's how much it is?" Li Xiaohan also replied with a smile.

"Aren't you afraid that I will lower the price randomly?" Mrs. Zhang raised her tone slightly.

"It's hard to buy a good thing. If Mrs. Zhang thinks that her favorite thing is only worth so much money, then it's only worth so much money." Li Xiaohan asked.

"If you say that, then I definitely can't offer a low price." Mrs. Zhang pondered for a moment and then quoted, "One thousand taels of silver, what do you think?"

After saying these words, Grandma Jin and Lily behind them couldn't help but widen their eyes.

The secret recipe for one thousand taels of silver! !

It's not like Grandma Jin and Lily haven't seen good things before. Secret treasures and ingredients worth thousands of gold are all in the warehouse of the General's Mansion. However, Miss Li said that this cake is obviously made from ordinary egg and goat milk flour. ah.

Could it be that it really tastes so delicious ?

At this moment, both Aunt Jin and Lily wanted to taste this cake.

It doesn't matter, once Madam buys the secret recipe, they will have it one day.

However, Mrs. Zhang offered a price of one thousand taels, and Li Xiaohan did not agree immediately. Instead, he asked, "Madam, the bet we made before, now that you have eaten it, do you think it is worth it?" Do you have a suggestion?"

"Of course it's worth it." Mrs. Zhang replied, "It's just that you're not tempted by a thousand taels? As long as you nod, you can immediately pocket a thousand taels for peace of mind. Are you sure you want to come and talk to me about your story now?" Pepper wine?"

"Of course I am tempted by one thousand taels, but this one thousand taels is only a temporary gain, while pepper is my income that can continue to flow steadily." Li Xiaohan explained.

"Actually, if you want to make the cake into a long-running cake, I can do it too. You come up with the secret recipe, and I'll manage the shop. I'll do it and you'll do it. Let's do a business. What do you think?"

Li Xiaohan thought for a while, but finally shook his head, "Madam, it's really difficult to make this cake bigger."

Li Xiaohan slowly explained: "First of all, three people in my family worked for almost two hours today to make this cake. You can imagine how time-consuming and troublesome it is. It requires opening a shop. It's extremely difficult to grow bigger. Of course, you can add people, but with so many people talking, it's easy for the secret recipe to be leaked."

"Secondly, this thing is difficult to preserve. It's better in winter, but in summer, it's easy to break. If it's broken, it's easy to eat up your stomach, which can easily cause disputes. Sometimes the food you eat is more safe than delicious. important."

"With this kind of money, you can't earn a comfortable living."

In fact, there is another unspoken reason for Li Xiaohan. Without the help of coaching tools such as electric egg beaters, making cakes requires a huge amount of manpower, which inevitably leads to high prices. The target customer group is a group of people that Li Xiaohan cannot reach.

Then, Li Xiaohan is working for Mrs. Zhang, not the two of them are doing business together, which is what Li Xiaohan doesn't want to see.

Compared with cakes, peppers do not have these problems.

Dried peppers can be stored for a long time, and peppers can target a wide range of customers. Even the most expensive wine is much cheaper than the planned cake.

This kind of customer group is what Li Xiaohan needs and can handle.

Moreover, peppers have advantages that cakes cannot match. Peppers can form a complete industrial chain, from planting, processing, to final product sales. As long as you master the core secret recipe, you can bring in a lot of people. People follow suit.

The deeper the interest, the deeper the relationship.

Now is not the future, there are perfect laws and guarantees. Li Xiaohan can only bring in as many people as possible, not just clan members, but also other people, to form a chain of interests. He is the largest and strongest in this chain of interests. A link that will not be easily shaken and removed.

This is the reason why Li Xiaohan has been fighting Fanjiao to the end.

The only problem with pepper is how to promote it.

"Since you insist, let's talk about this pepper."

Mrs. Zhang pondered and said, "Originally, I thought that based on the quality of your cooking, the wine you make should be good, so I can introduce you to Tongfu Restaurant in Fucheng. As long as you can impress the shopkeeper there, I believe that you will be able to slowly gain a foothold."

Mrs. Zhang introduced her to the past, and the shopkeeper of Tongfu Restaurant would eventually give some thin noodles. As long as Li Xiaohan's wine was not too bad, the shopkeeper would accept it.

This is actually a way provided by Mrs. Zhang.

I can't say it's not good, I can only say it's what Li Xiaohan thought of, that kind of satisfactory suggestion.

However, Mrs. Zhang changed the subject and changed her mind, "But, now I don't think so. I want to try your pepper wine first."

"Madam, you can't drink." Aunt Jin stopped her.

"It's okay, you can taste it for me." Mrs. Zhang said.

Aunt Jin has no objection. It's rare that Madam is so interested, so let's give it a try.

Three kinds of pepper wine were quickly brought over by Li Xiaohan, and Grandma Jin and the four maids quickly tasted them.

"The entrance is spicy and the taste is overbearing, but the wine is not very good." Grandma Jin said.

The four maids murmured for a while, and then gave a reply together, "Mother Jin is right, but it's quite novel."

It didn't seem to be a very high evaluation. Mrs. Zhang frowned and looked at Li Xiaohan.

It shouldn't be.

"Madam, grandma and these girls are not the guests I want."

The maids and maids in this mansion should be drinking sweet and mild wine like pear blossom white instead of overbearing cheap wine like chili wine.

It turned out to be so, Mrs. Zhang understood as soon as she thought about it, with a look of sudden realization on her face.

However, at this moment, while no one was paying attention, Mrs. Zhang suddenly touched the edge of the wine with her fingertips, then put it into her mouth to taste it.

At this moment, she didn't look like the pampered wife in the general's mansion, but an experienced businessman on the road between north and south.

"Madam." Aunt Jin strongly disagreed.

Mrs. Zhang waved her hand, smacked it carefully a few times, then raised the tea cup, took a sip of tea, and spit into the phlegm.

"Sure enough, I should try it myself. It's really not suitable for grandma and the others. I should ask Cheng'an and Doctor Zhang to come over and help me taste it."

Soon, Dr. Zhang and Zhang Fu were also called in. In order to avoid taboos with their foreign husband, Li Xiandong, as the head of the Li family, was also called in.

"Fu'er, Doctor Zhang, please give me a taste of this pepper wine."

When Dr. Zhang was called in, he thought he was being asked to taste the cake. Unexpectedly, he couldn't taste the cake, so he was just being asked to taste the wine.

Of course you can try wine, but there's nothing much to do here anyway.

Compared with Dr. Zhang's disappointment, Fu Zhang didn't seem to have too many surprises. I saw that he first picked up three wine glasses and tasted the three wines one by one. After taking a breath and thinking for a moment, he gave his own opinion, "The entrance is extremely spicy and the aftertaste is strong. But the quality of the wine is not enough. Harmonious, it is not as good as Dongyang Liquor brewing medicinal wine from jiu koji, almost in one piece. This wine has a head start and can win in large quantities."

Li Xiaohan has never drunk Dongyang wine, but the wine coming out of Mr. Zhang's mouth must not be cheap. Being able to compare them together shows that the wines are similar. If there are similarities, there will be a market. If there is a market, we can talk about it.

Although Mr. Zhang was objective, Li Xiaohan breathed a sigh of relief.

After Zhang Fu finished speaking, Doctor Zhang opened his mouth to speak. He smacked his lips and said, "Well, there are peppers and peppers, which are very useful. Well, there are also peppers and ginger..."

"Doctor Zhang, just tell me the effect." Zhang Fu reminded.

Li Xiaohan was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Dr. Zhang's tongue was so good. He could get almost 70% of the drink out after just one drink.

Doctor Zhang was embarrassed after being reminded. He thought for a while before saying, "It dispels wind and promotes blood circulation, dissipates cold, relieves depression, and induces stagnation. However, it is forbidden to take it for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire and bleeding."

Mr. Zhang Fugui's mask was still there, and he helped explain, "Miss Li, after all, Dr. Zhang is a doctor from Renhetang. He knows the taste of the medicine quite well. Ordinary people can't taste it. But don't worry, Dr. Zhang won't tell anyone."

Everyone is familiar with it, and almost everyone knows that Dr. Zhang likes to try all kinds of medicine .

"Thank you Mr. Zhang, I understand."

There are indeed not many Doctor Zhangs in this world.

When the wine tastes here, it's actually almost done.

"Madam, I want to do a business with you." Li Xiaohan said, "I will use your reputation for this pepper wine, and I will divide it into 70% and 30% afterwards. What do you think?"

Mrs. Zhang raised her head in great surprise, and then said with a smile, "Just now, I mentioned the division of the cake, but it was seven to me and three to you. Now the pepper wine has become seven to me and you?"

=== Chapter === 57

"Miss Li, did I hear wrongly?" Mrs. Zhang asked with a smile.

"Madam, you heard correctly." Li Xiaohan replied seriously.

"Oh, then I want to hear what you mean." Mrs. Zhang was not annoyed, but with a little smile, expectation and playfulness, as if to say, I want to See what you say. The whole person became alive

"I used to be in the cake business. Madam, you must also understand that what I do is your shop and it is for your people, so what I borrow is your face, and you need to maintain the relationship. So, madam The price you offered is seven for you and three for me, which is reasonable." Li Xiaohan slowly explained.

"Miss Li sees it very clearly, so in fact, we have ignored you, and your promise now is still valid." Mrs. Zhang said with a smile.

"However, the pepper wine is different. The pepper wine does not require you, madam, to open a new shop or invest in new manpower. Even because of the quality of the wine, we are not prepared to go high-priced, so we do not need your favor, madam. To maintain the relationship, all we need is the channel of Tongfu Restaurant, madam, and then when we encounter trouble, we can ensure that our normal interests are protected."

"It sounds like I can just sit back and collect money, but how can you guarantee that you can make money? If you just make money from Tongfu Restaurant, then I also lent my reputation, wouldn't I be losing money?" "

"I won't just make money from Tongfu Restaurant. If Madam minds, I can avoid Tongfu Restaurant. But, wouldn't it be good for Madam to make money on her own if she has money? If Tongfu Restaurant makes money, doesn't it mean that she still falls into the trap?" Why do you have to deal with money in your wallet?"

Amazingly, the pepper wine somehow fits the taste of people of this era. This experiment was supported by multiple data samples when Li Xiaohan participated in the New Year pig feast of many families in the clan.

Maybe there is such a thing as medicated wine in this world, and then drinking it has that spicy and hot feeling. In this cold winter, it just suits the appetite of the drinker.

"You won't just make money from Tongfu Restaurant. Madam, you have also tasted this wine, so you will naturally know the taste of this wine. In fact, without Tongfu fake wine, I think the newly opened shop in Qinggang is good. I believe they will be interested."

Autumn and winter are coming, and the cotton has almost been combed and made into cotton-padded clothes. Qinggang is probably starting to worry about a new round of popularity.

Mrs. Zhang raised her eyebrows, she was from the Qinggang again, this girl is really bold. However, it is undeniable that it is really accurate.

"It makes sense, but I'm just too interested." Mrs. Zhang sounded like I'm going to make trouble unreasonably, please come and convince me.

"That doesn't matter. It's worthwhile to have a chat with Madam. Madam thinks the cake is delicious. I feel happy chatting with Madam. We are both satisfied, so that's it."

"Hey, I hear what you mean, if I don't do this pepper business, why don't you buy this cake?" Mrs. Zhang asked with a smile, like a cat's threat, showing that I am a bit bored, come and play the meaning of.

"Thank you, madam, for your understanding. It's just that our family's financial resources are very weak, so we must have a unique skill that can attract the protection of noble people." Li Xiaohan was not afraid, as if he didn't understand, but also seemed to understand the meaning.

"What if I don't understand?"

"Madam is not such a person." Li Xiaohan was very sure.

With Mrs. Zhang's background, she must cherish her feathers very much. There is no need to lose a bad reputation because of these three melons and two dates. After all, their general's body is actually very sensitive, and even Second Young Master Zhang has to pretend to be so.

In fact, it may be difficult to find a more suitable person. The rare thing about power is self-restraint.

"You put it like that, of course I can't be such a person." Mrs. Zhang sighed.

However, he changed his tone and asked Li Xiandong, who had been standing in front of the background, "Mr. Li, what do you think of this business?"

Li Xiandong was suddenly questioned by Mrs. Zhang. First, Mr. Li was shocked by the sound that came out of Mrs. Zhang's mouth, and then he was at a loss when he was asked what do you think.

What does he think?

What is he looking at?

He doesn't know!

For a moment, Li Xiandong couldn't say a word, but Mrs. Zhang and others seemed to have been looking at him. Li Xiandong's face gradually turned red. Fortunately, his face turned dark. After a long while, he finally choked out a sentence, "Mrs. , our family all listens to Xiaohan."

"Ah, that's it. I heard that Mrs. Li is pregnant recently. Congratulations to Mr. Li. I wish Mr. Li will have a son in one fell swoop and finally get his wish."

Li Xiandong was simply flattered that Mrs. Zhang even knew about his mother-in-law's pregnancy, "Xiaohan told you, Mrs. Thank you."

As soon as these words came out, Dr. Zhang closed his eyes and Mrs. Zhang's mouth twitched, but Li Xiaohan smiled happily.

Mrs. Zhang was helpless. If she couldn't explain it to such a person, she had to keep saying it, but this was fine.

"In this case, for the sake of this stutter, I just started this business with Miss Li. We also share the secret recipe of the cake. However, Miss Li is a smart person, so I would like to remind you that we are a law-abiding family. , if anything happens to Miss Li and affects me, I won't be polite at that time."

"Of course." Li Xiaohan said.

"Well. Let me think about it, business has to have a deadline. Let me think about it, let's set it within three years. If anything happens to me within these three years, you can find my son. He will still be there. It's considered filial piety." Mrs. Zhang said thoughtfully.

"mother."

"lady."

"What are you afraid of? I am like this. I have never experienced anything or seen anything. Living is enough." Mrs. Zhang was very indifferent.

"Madam, those who leave can be open-minded, but those who stay will suffer the most." Li Xiaohan advised.

Perhaps this sentence spoke to Mrs. Zhang's heart. She just sighed and said, "Aunt Jin, take my private seal. I will also leave some traces for everyone. Guiyuan, write a document for me."

Guiyuan came in response, writing in small regular script with a hairpin in her hand quickly and smoothly. She was worthy of being Mrs. Zhang's chief maid.

After Guiyuan finished writing the document, Aunt Jin handed over the private seal. Mrs. Zhang picked up the private seal and said, "Miss Li, a woman's maiden name is usually not disclosed to others, but we are now business owners. Now that I'm making a contract, I need to tell you that my name is Song Huiru."

"I, Song Huiru, am making a contract with you, Li Xiaohan, not with your Li family."

Mrs. Zhang glanced at Li Xiandong, and then gave Li Xiaohan a meaningful gaze.

Li Xiaohan followed Mrs. Zhang's gaze and saw that Li Xiandong was still cheerful and quite proud.

"Yes, Mrs. Zhang, it is Li Xiaohan who is making a contract with Song Huiru. I understand what you mean."

Li Xiaohan lowered his head and signed his name in duplicate on the document. It looked a bit ugly next to the longan hairpin in small regular script and Mrs. Zhang's simple seal.

But it's very straight and clear.

"As long as you understand. Miss Li, you have to understand that it is not easy for us women to walk this road. Parents, children, brothers and sisters are not as reliable as ourselves. The one in your hand, the one with your name written on it, is you Yes. I am a little older than you. When I see a young man like you, I can't help but give you a few words of caution."

"Yes, Madam Xie taught me. Xiaohan will remember it in his heart and will never forget it in his life."

Seeing Guiyuan put away the paperwork, Mrs. Zhang explained, "It's inconvenient to be stuck here now. When the wind and snow stop, a housekeeper will come over to handle the specific details. Miss Li, don't you mind?" ."

"Of course I don't mind." Li Xiaohan did not hesitate.

The documents have all been signed. Mrs. Zhang's family has a great business, so she still needs to break her promise on this matter? Of course not. In fact, she should be grateful for the snowstorm.

However, the paperwork has been signed, and although the money has not been received, the secret recipe for the cake can now be taught.

Because Mrs. Zhang did not dare to finish the cake, and the maids had to taste it before they knew what it tasted like, the remaining half was divided between the maids and Nanny Jin.

"It's like this. No wonder it's worth a thousand taels." Lily sighed after taking a bite of the cake.

The other three people also nodded frequently.

A mature person like Aunt Lian Jin swallowed her last bit of dissatisfaction after eating a piece of cake.

I thought that the maids and guards were not adaptable, but Li Xiaohan was just a little smart, and relied on the right time, place and people to gain the upper hand.

Nowadays, it seems that some people can create something even if they have nothing.

What's even more rare is that even if you have such a good thing, you can still calm down and keep it until your wife takes it out. It is rare for Miss Li to understand the truth that a child's love for money is a disaster rather than a blessing at such a young age.

Li Xiaohan didn't know the change in Aunt Jin's evaluation of herself, but she did feel the change in another person.

Since someone had to be left to serve Mrs. Zhang, it was the maid Guiyuan who came to the kitchen to learn how to make cakes. ,

In the past, Li Xiaohan used to be very calm about Guiyuan, but now, Li Xiaohan discovered that Guiyuan can also be very smart and be cruel to himself.

When making a new cake, longan can be involved in every detail from the very beginning of whipping the cream. Of course, Guiyuan is weaker than Li Xiaohan, so he chose Qingzhu Guards to make whipped cream, but I, Xiaohan, believe that Guiyuan has figured out the principle of that fluffy taste.

Even so, Miss Guiyuan was not complacent, but asked about every detail.

From this, you can feel how terrifying it is for a smart person to go all out.

But if you think about it, Guiyuan can stand out among the maids and become Mrs. Zhang's confidant maid, so she is definitely not a stupid person.

However, going all out to this extent also shows that Guiyuan's current situation is also difficult.

Guiyuan's age has arrived, and it's time to marry someone.

There is no married maid who returns to take charge of the wife's private treasury. This position in charge of money is too sensitive. Most people who get married focus on their husband and children. The risk is too high.

But Guiyuan was originally superior in loyalty and reading and literacy, but when she retreated to other aspects, her competitiveness was not so obvious.

Therefore, this cake is a new opportunity and new advantage for longan.

After thinking about it, Li Xiaohan couldn't help but sigh, the competition in the workplace among maids in ancient times was also very fierce. The age crisis and fertility crisis are also very naked.

None of it is easy.

The two taught and learned together, teaching with all their heart, and learning seriously. In addition, cakes are different from traditional cooking skills, and Guiyuan was almost ready to start cooking soon. The rest is just more practice.

Li Xiaohan also learned about longan. If there are other fruits, such as grapefruit, you can add some to remove the fishy smell in eggs and milk; the decorative fruits can be stacked in layers to avoid eating too many flavors. It will be greasy; if you use oil paper to cut a corner, the butter can be squeezed into various shapes...

In short, it is based on the basics and playing various tricks.

The reason for doing this is probably because of Guiyuan's efforts, or because of a good relationship.

When you are alive, you never know which seed you plant will blossom and bear fruit.

Just like that, another day passed, the snow and wind finally stopped, and the housekeeper of Zhang Mansion finally appeared in Pingshan Village with a larger and warmer carriage.

There was nothing going on in the winter. The Li family had long known that a distinguished guest was coming to Li Xiandong's house, but they never knew that this distinguished guest was so expensive.

Looking at the tall carriage, which covers half of the room; looking at the maids and guards, they are so beautifully dressed... As for the madam, of course the madam and the young master cannot be seen.

In the Li family, the middle-aged housekeeper knelt on the ground with tears in his eyes, "Second Young Master, I blame the old slave for his poor service and improper preparation, which has caused my wife and Young Master to suffer."

The mouths of everyone waiting around were slightly twitching, are they suffering? It seems to be quite bitter indeed. However, it didn't seem like I was suffering much.

"Okay, get up, don't blame Butler Fu." Zhang Fu waved his hand. On the day he arrived at Li's house, Qingsong Qingbai returned to Fucheng and contacted Butler Fu with just one sentence. It was just that the wind and snow were quite heavy at that time, making it difficult for everyone to show up, so Butler Fu was ordered to prepare things and come over to greet them after the wind and snow stopped.

"Yes, Young Master." Butler Fu understood the Young Master's style, stopped talking, stood up and prepared to do something.

"Miss Li, Mr. Li, Mrs. Li, thank you for your hospitality over the past few days. We will send someone over to continue discussing the follow-up matters in detail. Now I'll take my leave." Zhang Fu said to Li Xiaohan's family. .

Li Xiandong and Wang were called "Master and Mrs." again. Still, in the presence of so many people, they didn't know what to say. Li Xiaohan already knew his parents, so he took over the conversation and said: "Young Master Zhang, you don't have to be polite. We have been here all the time, so Mr. Zhang should set off first. The weather is unpredictable, so it is important for Mr. Zhang to escort his wife first. "

Zhang Fuguo stopped talking and raised his hands to say goodbye. The servants of Zhang Mansion started to move.

When they arrived, they were even more cautious and the team was huge. Mrs. Zhang didn't even show up. A tightly sealed soft sedan was carried directly from the West Room to the carriage.

Mrs. Zhang's illness seems to be that she is very afraid of the cold. But in the past few days, there didn't seem to be any particularly strong symptoms or wounds, but the whole person seemed to be very weak.

Li Xiaohan thought secretly in his heart, trying to recall whether there was any description of Mrs. Zhang in the plot of the original book. But no memory.

It stands to reason that if the emperor's beloved minister is given the posthumous title Zhongyong, his family members should also be famous ladies in the court. Zhang Zhen also has two sons, but it seems like the whole family has disappeared.

Li Xiaohan couldn't figure it out, there must be a major mystery in it. However, if you can't remember it, you'll have to wait and see it later.

Withdrawing his mind, Li Xiaohan watched Zhang's family leave.

It's like watching a movie with 3D surround and even real people participating in the battle. In it, the people are dressed in fragrant clothes, beautiful and rich, but when the movie is over and the movie is over, only real life is left.

This is Pingshan Village, the Li family.

Along the way, some of the Zhang family members could not help but look back as they walked further and further away.

Pingshan Village is just like the hailstorm on Xiaohan's day. It came unexpectedly and completely broke the pace and cognition of Zhang's family. Leaving is like the aroma of cakes that day. Thinking about it, It seems to have a hint of aftertaste.

The chopped firewood, the chopped meat, and the washed vegetables seem to have passed by, and when I think about them, I still have some aftertaste.

The sky was high and the clouds were clear, and the group of people walked further and further away. The group of people stayed in the margin. After all, they were not fellow travelers.

Seeing the noble man walking away, people from Pingshan Village suddenly appeared from all over the place, swarming in and crowded together to Li Xiandong's house.

"Xiandong, I heard that your family entertained a noble man, how was it? Is the noble man good-tempered?"

"Xiaohan, have you seen the noble man? What does the noble man look like? Is he the same as the one in the play? He is very good-looking."

"Sister-in-law Xiandong, you have really seen the world. How are you? Are the nobles very kind?"

…

In an instant, it was like three hundred ducks quacking around, making people's heads explode.

"Everyone, everyone." Li Xiaohan raised his hands, trying to suppress everyone's voices, "Listen to me, listen to me."

I repeated it three times and finally got people to calm down.

"The noble man just accidentally entered our village and stayed at my house because of the snowstorm a few days ago. How can we talk about their affairs? If the noble man gets angry and blames him, who can bear it? Now the noble man He has already left, let's all disperse, please disperse."

Naturally, it was impossible for the people watching to be convinced at once. Li Xiaohan was just about to pick out a few outstanding people to talk about when the clan leader and his third uncle arrived.

"Xiaohan is right, everyone should go home. What's the fuss?" the clan leader shouted loudly.

At this time, only a few nail households were left with hesitant expressions on their faces, and they wanted to ask more questions, but the patriarch glared angrily and had no choice but to exit obediently.

The Li family house finally returned to peace. Li Xiaohan decided immediately that until there was no new news to attract the attention of the tribe, he would never go to other people's New Year Pig Banquet and would not give the tribe any chance to ask questions.

However, the villagers have retreated. How to face the clan leader and third uncle now is another problem.

=== Chapter === 58

After welcoming the patriarch and his third uncle into the main room, Li Xiaohan thought about these things in his heart, how to say them, and to what extent.

At this moment, there were basically no traces of the Zhang family in the hall, but Li Xiaohan knew that the traces of the Zhang family in the hearts of everyone in Pingshan Village were not so easy to eliminate.

"Mrs. Zhang and Mr. Zhang are gone. I don't want to disturb you for the past few days. Xiandong, please tell me about the past few days." The patriarch pretended to be calm and said.

Ever since he accidentally lost his composure in front of Mr. Zhang, in order to save his remaining image, the patriarch tried hard to suppress his desire to be a scholar for his son, and only came to inquire about the situation after everyone in the Zhang family left.

"Clan leader, my father can't tell me clearly, so I'll do it." Li Xiaohan said.

The clan leader and his third uncle thought about it and realized that they couldn't count on Xiandong for such a thing.

"I signed a contract document with Mrs. Zhang. I will cooperate with Mrs. Zhang. When my pepper wine is sold, I will sell it to her." Li Xiaohan first threw a king bomb to attract attracted all the attention of the clan leader and his third uncle.

This is also a way of talking. This method is conducive to attracting the other party's mind, taking the initiative, and letting the other party follow their own ideas.

"What's going on?" Sure enough, the clan leader and his third uncle asked together.

"It's what everyone thinks of. Mrs. Zhang and her party were trapped by the snow, and then my father happened to bring them back. They are a quality family, although they don't live in our house. She is very accustomed to it, but she is still willing to give us this protection. Mrs. Zhang will not take care of the pepper wine business. She just said that if anyone else has evil intentions, Mrs. Zhang can Bring out the name and use it."

"By the way, Mrs. Zhang is the owner behind Tongfu Restaurant, so I can sell my pepper wine there." Li Xiaohan added, "However, I'm not prepared to sell it there. , I'm going to give it a try to the Qinggang first."

"Why?" Third uncle asked with doubt.

"My third uncle and the clan leader know this thing better than I do, and it always gets thinner the more we use it. Madam Zhang, Mr. Zhang, is sensible. I have already been protected. If I don't even bother to do this, it's actually a bit of a waste." Get on the pole and ask for repayment." Li Xiaohan said.

"That's true. It's good that you can understand this truth at a young age. If it doesn't work, you can just take the path of Tongfu Restaurant."

The third uncle's family had some time ago to kill the New Year pig, and he also drank Li Xiaohan's pepper wine. According to the third uncle's experience, there is no need to worry about lack of sales. Now that I have the big umbrella of Mrs. Zhang to protect me, I am not afraid of being robbed.

"I don't want to tell anyone about the partnership between Mrs. Zhang and me now, just in case anything happens. The clan leader and my third uncle will help me keep it a secret." Li Xiaohan requested again.

"Why is this?" the third uncle asked in confusion. This was too clear. "Being named as a noble person will save you a lot of trouble."

"The protection of nobles is sometimes a double-sided sword. If it involves other incidents and the nobles fight, it is not easy to do it. It will be easy for us to pinch you. Then I will We are the fish in the pond who have been affected by the disaster. We are not the relatives of the nobles. If anything happens, the nobles will lose face and come to help vent their anger, but we will suffer losses. It's a foregone conclusion. It's okay if you lose your money, but if you lose your life, where will you cry?"

Li Xiaohan was right, but he just didn't want to be too implicated.

General Zhang is a confidant of King Ding, and there will definitely be many twists and turns when the time comes. His family will be involved in it, even a broken ship in the treacherous waves, and he can take pictures of all the storms and waves.

It's best to handle everything yourself. Unless it's a matter of life and death, don't use this relationship at all. When the time comes for King Ding to ascend the throne, the overall situation has been decided, and you can survive the troubled times safely.

To put it bluntly, Mrs. Zhang's side is a nuclear weapon. It cannot be left out, but it is generally not used.

"Yes, you are very thoughtful." The third uncle nodded. Although he had a little arrogance that only young people have, he always felt that he could do it on his own, but it was still a kind of vigor and vitality.

"Patriarch, what do you think?" Seeing that the patriarch had been silent and seemed to be deep in thought about something, the third uncle asked.

"Has Mrs. Zhang ever revealed that she is the owner behind Renhetang?" the patriarch asked with a frown.

Li Xiaohan's heart skipped a beat. The clan leader had even guessed this. He only guessed it after seeing Doctor Zhang and the plot of the original book. Sure enough, everyone has their own channel, and their own family is still too weak.

"I vaguely guessed that Dr. Zhang from Renhetang came over in the snow and revealed a little bit. But they didn't tell me about Mrs. Zhang's affairs, so we just made a guess in our hearts. No. I dare to say it." Li Xiaohan said half-truthfully, maintaining his usual cautious persona.

"Well, that can't be said." The third uncle also agreed.

The identity of the owner behind Renhetang is Mrs. Zhang Zhen, and the third uncle and others know this. If Mrs. Zhang only wants the Li family to find Tongfu Restaurant instead of Renhetang, she may still not want to expose this identity.

The clan leader thought about it for a long time, and finally found out helplessly that the nobles were unwilling to reveal anything more. It was really the right thing for Li Xiaohan to do now.

"In this case, let's do what Xiaohan said. Don't worry, my third uncle and I will keep it a secret. However, for the tribesmen outside, you have to come up with an explanation. Everyone's curiosity is not It's so easy to disperse." The clan leader reminded.

Although he had just suppressed his clansmen, he also understood that maybe no one dared to discuss it in front of him, but in private, there would definitely be those who were ignorant and would ask questions.

"Don't worry, Mr. Zhang also gave us some money. I think everyone will be interested." Li Xiaohan responded.

If Mrs. Zhang and the others were to come together and the Li family would gain nothing, the villagers would definitely not believe it. There must be some benefit, and that is in line with the mentality of the villagers.

As for how much silver, let everyone guess first. As long as you don't guess too outrageously, you can turn your family into fat sheep with a huge wealth. When the time comes, the mystery needs to be revealed, and if you buy the fields with your money, it will be safe. The land needs to be registered with the government, and little thieves will not care about it.

Thinking of this, Li Xiaohan said, "Clan leader, please help my family keep an eye on whether anyone is selling land. It doesn't matter whether it is forest land, dry land, or paddy field. We can increase the price slightly."

"Sure, I'll help you keep an eye on it first." The patriarch knew in his heart that this was the use of Mr. Zhang's money. It is safest to buy land with money, and the clan leader agrees in his heart.

This matter has been explained clearly. Others are just daily things. The patriarch and the third uncle will not inquire too much into the lives of Zhang Fu and others. It is nothing more than food and accommodation. In Li Xiandong's house, the conditions are still good. It's not as good as living in their own home. They probably won't be used to it.

This conversation ended after the three of them finished talking, and Li Xiandong was making a decoration next to it.

Since he couldn't quite understand what he was hearing and was confused, there was no way to refer to the expression on his face.

After the patriarch and his third uncle left, Li Xiaohan said to Li Xiandong and Wang, "Father, mother, we must keep the secret recipe of the cake a thousand taels a secret. Otherwise, our family has so much money, and With such a small number of people, maybe if word spreads, the little thief will be taken care of. Without that little thief, the clansmen know that we have so much money, and maybe someone will come to borrow money. "

"Well, we know it and we will definitely not tell it." Li Xiandong and Wang said. It must be kept secret, and what if the old man comes and asks to borrow money? Cai Rong's education will cost a lot.

After dealing with these things, Li Xiaohan felt exhausted. Taking advantage of the absence of the clan members, the family quickly closed the door and took a long nap.

The next day, an indigo tarpaulin carriage came to the door of Li Xiandong's house, and a man came out. It was the housekeeper of the Zhang family who came to pick him up that day.

The housekeeper knocked on the door of Li Xiandong's house. Li Xiandong opened the door and quickly welcomed the person in.

Li Xiaohan poured the pear paste water, thinking that the housekeeper was here to give away silver coins. Unexpectedly, the housekeeper opened his mouth and said, "Master Li, Miss Li, our madam and son-in-law told me after we got back, the secret recipe of the cake is a thousand dollars." Two, I originally thought of giving you a banknote. However, now I have a choice. There is 80 acres of good farmland near Luoshan in Pingshan Village, Fucheng. I would like to ask if you want land or banknotes.

"I want land." The three members of the Li family said at the same time.

Although I don't understand why Mrs. Zhang suddenly changed her mind, it is obviously for their sake. There is nothing more suitable for them than the fields. Therefore, it was decided in unison without any discussion at all.

"In that case, please come with me, Mr. Li, and let's finalize the document today," the housekeeper said.

Li Xiaohan wanted to follow him, but the housekeeper came in a carriage, and it was closed. As a woman, he was a foreigner after all, not a clan member, so he still had to avoid it.

At this moment, Li Xiaohan felt that the difference between men and women in ancient times was really troublesome. In his previous life, no one had taken a taxi with several male colleagues.

Forget it, forget it, do as the Romans do. Li Xiaohan comforted himself that this dynasty was still tolerant. If I were to live in that dynasty where Ming Qingcheng could not even get out of school, I would be depressed.

So, Li Xiaohan told his father again, thinking that there wouldn't be any problems here in the Zhang Mansion, as his father had also gone to the city to handle paperwork.

It should work.

Li Xiandong took the housekeeper's carriage and went out, leaving Li Xiaohan and Wang at home looking around.

Soon, Li Xiandong came back by himself. Li Xiaohan thought, it only took more than an hour and less than two hours from the carriage leaving the Li house to the time Li Xiandong came back. This document was processed quite smoothly. ah.

"Dad, you came back by yourself, have you finished the matter?" Li Xiaohan greeted him.

"Yes. After finishing the deed, the housekeeper has something to do. I'm in Fucheng by myself, so I took a ride back from Niucheng."

In the past, Li Xiandong would have been reluctant to part with the money for the oxcart. He could just walk alone.

But today, with this land deed in his arms, he felt hot in his heart and wanted to rush home right away.

"Master, have you bought the land? Where's the title deed?" Wang asked anxiously. She knew that the title deed was required when buying land.

"Well, the land deed has been applied for." At this moment, Li Xiandong's expression was extremely complicated and subtle. He took out a piece of deed paper from his arms and handed it to Wang.

"Dad, I'll make you hot pear paste water." Li Xiaohan said, her father's hands were shaking a little in this cold weather.

"become."

Mrs. Wang didn't doubt his presence, took it and opened it quickly. She had seen the land deed and recognized the names of several people in the family. Li Xiandong told her.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I opened it. The name listed on the land deed is Li Shi Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan.

Wang looked up at Li Xiandong in shock. Li Xiandong nodded and told her it was true.

Mrs. Wang lowered her head to look at the thin deed paper carefully, and finally showed a tearful smile.

"Mom, what's going on? Is there a problem?" Li Xiaohan saw that his parents looked wrong and asked.

"It's okay." Wang handed the deed to Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan took it over doubtfully and took a look.

"My name? Did you write my name?"

"Well, I wrote your name. I will make a dowry for you in the future." Li Xiandong said. He who has never been good at speaking in the past tried to explain slowly this time, "If the land is bought by the clan, the clan leader I won't let you take away a married woman, so our family is the only one who knows this place..."

Li Xiaohan looked at the deed, and heard his father's nagging in his ears. He was simply afraid that the clan would prevent her from taking away the land as a dowry when she got married, so it was better to give it to her as soon as possible.

Li Xiaohan couldn't help but smile. He smiled but didn't know why, and tears fell drop by drop.

She thought of the one-bedroom, three-living house that her parents bought for her in the provincial capital in her previous life. They put her name on it and she collected the rent.

At that time, Li Xiaohan still declined. She had just entered college. Although her family was not short of money, it was still very compact to buy a three-bedroom house in the provincial capital with full payment, so it was not necessary.

What did my parents say at that time, "If we keep the money in the bank, it will depreciate, so it is better to buy a house as an investment. Your home is far away from your school, and the fully paid house is yours." In the future, when you get married, you will have your own house in case of a quarrel. If you can't find that person, you will have a place to live in the provincial capital. Just go home often and visit. ."

She thought that no one would love her like this.

No one would plan for her like this anymore.

The late-night sighs and helplessness that I had been trying to convince myself to accept for the suspected male fetus of unknown gender seemed to rise up at this moment, like a wave of waves crashing, and then dissipated. .

"What...what's wrong?" Li Xiandong said in a hurry.

"Don't cry, don't cry, your father is doing it for your own good. This dowry is a woman's confidence." Mrs. Wang kept comforting her.

Li Xiaohan understood, and she understood it so well that she wanted to cry even more, crying out the loneliness she felt after her parents left in her previous life...

When Mrs. Wang saw Li Xiaohan crying for a long time, she suddenly stopped trying to persuade her. She just patted Li Xiaohan's shoulder with red eyes and said, "Good boy, cry, cry. Thank you for your hard work during this time." , I have wronged you. Cry, cry."

Li Xiaohan threw himself into Wang's arms and cried deeply.

=== Chapter === 59

After crying hard for a while, Li Xiaohan raised his head and wiped away his tears.

Wang and Li Xiandong's expressions were still filled with fear, confusion and heartache. When they saw Li Xiaohan raise his head, they looked over blankly.

The three pairs of eyes looked at each other, and they were dumbfounded for a moment. Li Xiaohan reacted first, burst into laughter, and showed a tearful smile.

The sun rises after the rain, and the spring flowers bloom.

Only then did Li Xiandong and Wang laugh.

"Dad, tell me, why is my name written on the deed of these eighty acres of land?"

According to Li Xiaohan's understanding of Li Xiandong, his father definitely has no such idea. His father's code of conduct is to follow the past practices, and what has been done in the past is what it is. If you ask him to work, he can do it for you quickly and well, but if you come up with this idea, it is impossible.

Therefore, there must have been some external force that changed her father's mind and led her father to make this decision.

Of course, this did not affect Li Xiaohan's feeling of emotion and relief, because the result was already in her hands.

No matter what influenced her father to change, there is no denying that this has gone against her lifelong understanding, and he did not hide this result from her.

Even if her father had hesitation or other problems during the process, he always followed the results without caring about his heart.

When Li Xiaohan asked, Li Xiandong recalled, "I got on the carriage with the housekeeper, and then the housekeeper told me that this field was part of Mrs. Zhang's dowry, and no one else could control her. Because the dowry was too large. , Mrs. Zhang is very stubborn at home, and she even asked me if I have prepared a dowry for you. You are so impressive, how much have I prepared for you."

"That's all? And then you wrote my name on the land deed?"

"Yes. The housekeeper is right. You have done your best in this family. It is appropriate to write your name on Panax notoginseng, Eucommia ulmoides, pepper wine, and cakes." Li Xiandong affirmed, and then He hesitated and said with a bit of fear, "If I wait until you get married, I will give it to you. The cash is fine, but it will be too difficult for you to take away the land registered in the clan... The clan leader, uncle, and the others will not agree. It's better to just write your name if no one knows about it now."

That's what it is like to have a strong clan. You are protected and restricted by the clan.

Especially as a married woman, if she wants to take away a large amount of land as a dowry, it will shake the foundation of the clan. She wants her father to resist the clan for this...

Li Xiaohan looked at her father. Maybe there was a connection between father and daughter. Li Xiandong seemed to have thought of this as well, shaking his head in horror.

Forget it, the current situation is indeed the best.

But, why did the butler say this?

Are you acting on Mrs. Zhang's instructions?

What was Mrs. Zhang thinking behind the scenes?

Li Xiaohan was confused.

What did Mrs. Zhang think? Mrs. Zhang also wants to ask.

"You said for no reason that it was my intention to turn that sum of money into fields. What did you mean? How could I have such a small dowry?"

Mrs. Zhang asked lazily as she sat on the warm couch, half covered with a warm velvet floral and apricot red silk quilt, with hot tea and pastries in front of her.

There was a floor heater in the room, and after just taking a bath in the hot spring, Mrs. Zhang's face was finally a little more colorful than at Li's house.

The person Mrs. Zhang was questioning was Zhang Fu, who was sitting on the stool in front of her.

Zhang Fu picked up a cup of hot tea, looked like a handsome nobleman, and explained seriously, "After all, we are here to repay gratitude and not revenge. Giving such a large sum of money to the Li family will bring no less danger than benefit. Moreover, Not to mention the external side, it's hard to say how much profit Miss Li can get internally, after all, her mother is also pregnant with one child."

"It sounds reasonable, but I am your mother after all. I would not know that you are not such a kind person." Mrs. Zhang did not accept this trick, "Tell me, what is the real reason?"

Zhang Fu paused for a moment, and then said, "Mom, don't you like Miss Li very much? You also reminded him that his parents and brothers are not as reliable as himself."

"I was reminding her, but I didn't go to this extent. If she takes this path, she is destined to have a lot of risks in the future. She can't see through this level, and she will be in vain if she can't talk about it in the future. It's up to everyone. Everyone's path must be overcome one step at a time."

"Then let her stay here forever, stay in this greenhouse, and keep her appearance like this. Mother, can you be happier? You have walked the more cruel road yourself, maybe this road is not cruel, Let her take a walk, which is not as good as the one you take. Mom, see if you will be happier."

Zhang Fu's voice was gentle and cold.

Mrs. Zhang raised her head and glanced at Zhang Fu in surprise, then sighed, "Maybe."

Mother and son said nothing more, and the topic moved elsewhere.

This little episode just passed.

Li Xiaohan naturally didn't know about the conversation between Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Fu.

However, being courteous for nothing is either cheating or stealing, and the benefits that suddenly fall from the sky are likely to be traps.

Although he didn't know why the housekeeper of Zhang's house did this or why Mrs. Zhang gave such an instruction, Li Xiaohan wrote down this mystery and once again became more vigilant about Zhang's house, secretly reminding himself to stay away from Zhang's house.

As for the fact that he has untied the knot in his heart, it is nothing more than waiting until later to repay kindness and revenge.

After thinking about it, Li Xiaohan quickly let go of these entanglements and continued to ask: "Dad, if you don't tell the clan leader about the eighty acres of land, what will you do with the daily management?"

You can't just let it go unused forever, right?

"I have asked. The land over there was originally contracted to tenant farmers. It is said that the rent paid by the acre is also in charge of the head of the village there. I will find a chance to take a look at the situation. If the tenant farmers there are still If you do your best, just follow the original example. When the time comes, the rent will be returned to you, and you can spend it however you want."

Obviously, hiding such a large amount of land from the clan was very challenging to Li Xiandong's limit, and his mind, which had only been thinking about work all year round, started to work.

"Well, let's do this for now." Li Xiaohan said.

She accepted her father's wishes first. As for what if the clan leader, the third uncle, really knows, then he will continue to fool around and pull the banner. Now he is not completely worthless against the clan.

Li Xiandong and Wang were relieved after receiving Li Xiaohan's approval. The impact of the land purchase did not affect Li Xiaohan for the time being.

Is there really no impact?

after dinner.

"Dad, please help me warm up the fire wall in my room. I like a warmer fire wall." Li Xiaohan said.

Since the beginning of winter, the Li family has made extensive use of firewalls. The fire wall is indeed much easier to use than the fire kang. If you don't touch the fire kang, you will be in the world of ice and fire.

However, there are also disadvantages, which is the waste of firewood.

Therefore, both Li Xiandong and Wang only need to keep themselves warm for a while, and they have to wear cotton-padded jackets when sleeping in the room.

In the past, Li Xiaohan burned like this in order to save firewood, but today Li Xiaohan made a request. She likes something warmer, not as warm as the collective heating in her previous life, wearing a sweater and eating ice cream, but she also shouldn't sleep in a cotton-padded jacket. .

"Okay, I'll add more firewood for you tonight. I'll also chop more firewood." To burn the fire wall, you have to start it before going to bed and add more firewood in the middle of the night.

"Yeah." Li Xiaohan nodded casually, quite naturally.

Sure enough, that night, when Li Xiandong burned the fire wall, he also burned Li Xiaohan's. It was so warm that Li Xiaohan only put on a thin layer of cotton-padded clothes and a new quilt to sleep.

Fall asleep almost instantly.

Next door, Li Xiandong and Wang couldn't sleep. The couple tossed and turned and stared at the dark roof.

"Dad, do you think I treat Xiaohan too badly? She cried so hard today!"

Wang's faint voice sounded, full of doubts, which really frightened her today.

Suddenly, she realized that she was so bad as a mother that she didn't even understand her own daughter.

When one person spoke up, the others could also speak. Li Xiandong said dullly, "I am too incompetent. If I just try my best, Xiaohan won't have to think so much at a young age."

"Alas." Regarding their incompetence, the two couples reached a consensus.

"Ever since I bumped into my mother's grave, I feel that Xiaohan has changed a bit. He is more capable, has an idea for everything, and is diligent, but I feel a little unhappy. It's just... that Xiaohan loved her before. She needs to sleep in a little bit, and I have to nudge her to get up in winter; she used to complain that she was tired from work; she doesn't like bad food, she likes harder food... She doesn't say anything now."

"Yeah, I won't say anything anymore. She said before that she wanted to learn to drive a bullock cart..." Li Xiandong sighed quietly.

"Then... what should we do?" Wang asked in fear.

In the darkness, Li Xiandong moved his lips, but in the end he said nothing.

What to do?

You can't ask Xiaohan either.

I don't know how long it took, but Li Xiandong stood up, put on his cotton coat and said, "I have to go look at the firewood. Xiaohan said she likes to be warmer."

"Ah, oh, you go ahead." Wang wanted to get up and sat back down.

That night, Li Xiandong added firewood twice, which made Li Xiaohan so hot that he kicked half of the quilt off in the middle of the night and only covered his stomach before falling asleep.

The next day, Li Xiaohan went to bed late and didn't get up until daylight.

"Mom, I got up late, why didn't you wake me up." Li Xiaohan opened the door. It felt like it was almost ten o'clock. At this time in the past, he would have finished breakfast and already had half of his work done.

"Why are you getting up so early? It's cold and there isn't much work to do. You can sleep more and grow stronger." Wang said with a smile.

The gang from the Zhang family came here a few days ago, but their daughter was exhausted.

"Do you want to eat? I cooked a dry pot rice for you, which is still warm. There is also your favorite goat milk drink and egg paste soup. Do you want to bring it to your room? Your room is still warm, right? The kitchen The fire is out."

Once the habit of eating in the house is developed, it is easy to fall into a bad habit. Li Xiaohan only thought about it for two seconds, and then responded with a crisp voice, "Okay, I will eat it in the house later."

"I'll serve it to you. You should wash up quickly. There's hot water in the pot. Don't let it get cold."

Mrs. Wang felt relieved. As expected, her daughter still liked to sleep in, and she still didn't like to eat bad food.

"Why."

After breakfast, Li Xiaohan asked, "Dad, it's time to pay the cotton tax. Will our family use money to offset the tax this year?"

The cotton tax was a unique tax of the Wei Dynasty. The tax was paid on a per capita basis. Because it was related to cotton, the tax was collected at the latest every year, leaving enough time for everyone to peel cotton seeds and weave cotton cloth.

"Well," Li Xiandong nodded and said, "In previous years, it was almost this time. The weather was bad the past few days, so I probably didn't come down. I will go to the clan leader's house to ask later."

After a while, Li Xiandong put on his cotton coat and cotton shoes and went out. Li Xiaohan and Wang were making cotton combs and combing cotton seeds at home.

About an hour later, Li Xiandong came back, but the expression on his face showed great joy, "I went to the clan leader, and the clan leader happened to go to the house leader's house, so I waited."

"After an hour, the patriarch came back and said that your majesty lost the prince. King Ding and King Qi were concerned about the emperor. In order to comfort the emperor, the two princes did not collect cotton tax this year to accumulate blessings for the deceased prince. Therefore, this year No need to pay cotton tax."

Li Xiandong rubbed Leng Bingbing's hands and laughed so hard that the corners of his mouth almost split on his face.

"So, don't we save a fortune this year?" Wang was so happy that the half-finished shoe mat fell off her hand.

"That's right. We just confirmed it again with the clan leader, and there's nothing wrong with it."

"That's great." Wang said.

I don't know whether it's good that the prince died or that he didn't have to pay the cotton tax.

Li Xiaohan's mind quickly searched for the plot. Is he going to have a grandson? What's going on with this tax?

=== Chapter === 60

What's going on with this cotton tax?

Are taxes in a country such a joke? Isn't the Ministry of Household Affairs crying about poverty every day on TV? How can you say that if you don't accept it, you won't accept it?

Of course, this time it does not mean that the whole country will not collect taxes, but that the two princes were so sad that they did not even collect taxes in their fiefdoms because of the death of their eldest brother.

What a joke .

When Li Xiaohan watched those TV series in his previous life, in which princes fought for the throne and fought bloody battles, were they in vain?

Not to mention the location, just the dozens of acres of land owned by the Li family. When Li Shengli said that he would give away his father, the eldest brother, Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi silently accepted this benefit.

When the prince died, King Ding and King Qi would only laugh secretly. It would be possible for them to cry on the surface, but it would be absolutely impossible for them to accept less money out of their own free will.

Waiting, waiting, is not voluntary, then it is forced. In this world, the only person who can force the two princes is His Majesty the Emperor.

It may be true that the emperor was sad. After all, His Majesty the Emperor didn't know why. It was said that he went into battle in person and fought too hard, which hurt Yin De. He only had three sons: the prince, King Ding, and King Qi.

Things are rare and valuable, and every son is a treasure. His Majesty the Emperor loves the prince very much, and he also loves King Ding and King Qi.

If the prince does not say anything, the whole world will belong to the prince in the future;

King Ding was good at martial arts, so he assigned King Ding to this border. He not only gave King Ding a hundred thousand troops, but also gave him partial autonomy.

The King of Qi loved money, and his fiefdom was the richest land in the south of the Yangtze River.

The emperor had true love for each of his sons. Each son thought that he had arranged it. This was similar to ordinary people's families. The eldest son inherited the family business, and the second son and the third son had no family property, so give them a little more. Give them some money and land and let them go out and start their own business and live a good life.

Generally speaking this is fine, but this is royalty. Wherever the royal family goes, there is usually nowhere to go. They can only turn inward and compete for the highest position.

The emperor and I can restrain the prince's son, but the prince's son will remain obediently.

Being the eldest brother's prince may not necessarily be able to control the princes and brothers who have strong soldiers and horses, money and power. Maybe the prince will die of worry because of this.

Even an eldest brother might not be able to control him, let alone a nephew. It's one thing for the grandson to stand up, but it's another thing for the princes to recognize him or not.

The emperor began to realize that perhaps the prince finally confessed his feelings to his father before his death. Therefore, the emperor wanted to establish a grandson, but the two princes could not overcome the obstacle.

Now the emperor is forcing the princes to recognize the status of the prince's eldest brother. First, the status and reputation of the prince should be stabilized, and then the prince's son can gradually appear on the stage.

Moreover, the people in the two places are so happy. In the past, they only knew that there was a prince in the capital. Now that the prince is dead, he no longer has to pay taxes. What a good reputation the prince has. The prince is well, and the prince's son is also a good man.

The emperor began to clear the roadblocks for the establishment of his grandson.

As for why the princes were so cooperative, Li Xiaohan felt that maybe the princes could no longer see anything else except that position. Who would have thought that in addition to brothers being rivals, there are also nephews. Moreover, the emperor might have used carrot and stick tactics.

Li Xiaohan sighed, the sword hanging above his head was getting closer and closer.

But there is still a question, where was this tax paid in previous years?

"Dad, where was this tax paid in previous years?"

"Ah, leave it to the clan leader!" Li Xiandong said happily.

"What about the clan leader?"

"Leave the patriarch to the village chief!" Li Xiandong replied simply.

Although he already had that premonition, Li Xiaohan still held one-tenth of his hope, "Dad, where does it grow?"

"Leave the chief to the Yamen. I don't know about the higher-ups." Li Xiandong said without understanding.

This can't be blamed on Li Xiandong. After all, Li Xiandong only knows how to hand over the taxes to the government office. The clan leader can also explain why he will not collect taxes this year.

Sure enough, there is still too little information available. It would be great if future generations could search for it at any time.

Unable to get the answer he wanted, Li Xiaohan could only keep the mystery in his heart for the time being.

The general trend of the world is like this. What she can do is to better strengthen herself, avoid being affected by this wave, and survive well.

Worrying is useless, but, "Dad, we don't have to pay the cotton tax anymore. Many families have extra cotton, right? The price must be cheaper, right? Why don't we take this opportunity to buy some?" Do you want to stock up on cotton cloth? There is also a baby in your belly. If you have a chance, go to the city and see if the price of fine cotton cloth has dropped. If so, you can also prepare cotton cloth for small clothes. "

If it's that cheap, I definitely have to take advantage of it.

"That's the truth, daddy, please pay attention." Wang said with a pat on the thigh. Why is her daughter so spiritual?

"Sure, I'll keep an eye on it these days." Li Xiandong said.

Wang is now afraid of slippery feet and rarely goes out. Li Xiaohan feels that everyone is staring at her, and it is cold, so she is too lazy to go out.

But this year, many people came to invite Li Xiandong to the New Year Pig Feast, but Li Xiandong was the one who went out the most.

After confirming this matter, the family was about to continue working, when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Li Xiandong went out and opened the door, "It turns out to be Lotus, looking for Xiaohan to play with. Come in quickly."

Li Xiaohan saw Li Hehua wearing an old cotton coat, with a big smile on his face, and he strode over.

"Hehua, I haven't had time to see you these days, and I couldn't give you the goat milk I promised you. I'm really sorry." Li Xiaohan said.

"It's okay, I know you're busy." Li Hehua said.

A few days ago, her mother and sister-in-law came over to help. His father knew that she was coming to see Xiaohan, and he told her not to inquire about the distinguished guests. However, it was not because of this that she came here today. thing.

"Did you know? You don't have to pay the cotton tax this year. The prince is such a good person." Li Hehua smiled really happily.

Li Xiaohan's mouth twitched, not knowing how to respond.

The prince is dead and the death knell has sounded.

But there was no need for Li Xiaohan to reply. Li Hehua continued, "My mother said that we don't have to pay cotton tax this year, and my family has made money again. She generously said that all the cotton this year can be kept, and everyone can keep it." Buy a new cotton-padded coat. Last time you told me that your new cotton-padded coat is half finished, and the one with the red collar looks really nice. Can I take a look at how to fix it? I also want to make one."

"Yeah, it looks good. Let me tell you, this collar has a secret. It looks good and is easy to use."

Li Xiaohan immediately felt that his aesthetics had been recognized. He took Li Hehua's hand and walked into his room. At this time, there was no such thing as awkwardness in matching clothes. Everyone was wearing similar clothes.

If you can think of a slightly better new trick, then people from all over the country will follow it, and you will be the trend leader.

Opening his suitcase, Li Xiaohan took out his new cotton-padded coat, which Wang had repeatedly told him to wear during the Chinese New Year.

"Look here, this pink cotton collar, turn it out, there is a row of hidden buttons, you can unfasten the cotton collar. When the time comes, change the color of the cotton collar, and it will be a new piece of clothing. If it gets dirty, it's okay. Only wash cotton collars. If cotton clothes are washed too much, they will become hardened and will not keep you warm."

Li Xiaohan understood the detachable collars of later generations.

"Great, why is it so good?" Li Hehua turned over the cotton collar and looked at it over and over, "I said, it's the best thing to come to you. Your brain is spirituality. I have to do this too. Cotton collar."

"I'm telling you, you don't have to pay the cotton tax anymore, and the price of fine cotton in the city may also be reduced. Look at my lotus-colored red cotton collar. A cotton collar only costs sixteen cents. One foot, this price reduction makes it even cheaper."

Sixteen cents per foot of new light pink cotton cloth was not something that Li Hehua could afford to buy. Li Hehua also had a red jacket that Wang had always loved.

Sure enough, Li Hehua's eyes widened and his breathing became rapid, "Xiaohan, I really didn't make you a friend. You are so loyal. Just wait, I will definitely tell my father, Then we will wear the same cotton-padded clothes to celebrate the New Year."

Wearing the same cotton-padded clothes to celebrate the New Year together sounds like a good idea. Li Xiaohan replied crisply, "Sure, it's settled. When the time comes, people will see at a glance that we are the most... Good sisters."

"Yeah." Li Hehua nodded frantically, and the two of them lowered their heads and discussed closely what kind of hair accessories they would wear at that time, and they should also wear the same hairband.

In this room, the two of them were whispering wildly. In the hall, Mrs. Wang whispered to Li Xiandong, "Master, if you see those good cotton clothes and cotton cloth, buy more. We have to save the dowry for Xiaohan. We will give it to Xiaohan." "Xiaohan gave her five beds, no, eight big thick quilts, which she kept under her from the time she got married until she grew old, and she never suffered from her husband's family."

In those days, when a woman was given a dowry, the quilt was a big piece of clothing. If there were enough quilts in the dowry, she would be more confident.

"Sure." Li Xiandong nodded.

A few days later, Li Xiandong took advantage of the good weather this year and bought back several pieces of fine cotton cloth. As for cotton, there were quite a lot of them in the village.

Just, "Dad, why did you buy so many floral cloths?"

Li Xiaohan looked at the muslins Li Xiandong bought. Apart from the earthy white muslins for the children, the most eye-catching thing was the seven or eight one-foot-long colorful muslins.

"This is a collar for you and your mother. Look, it looks so good. You can change it into a cotton collar every day during the New Year." Li Xiandong said enthusiastically.

"These two red ones belong to your mother, this, this...the remaining six are all yours. Don't you like the colorful cotton collar? I'll give them all to you."

Li Xiaohan took a closer look, and saw goose yellow, willow green, rose red, pink purple, deep purple, and sky blue. The colors dazzled her eyes.

Mrs. Wang also helped, "Look, this bright yellow color matches our Xiaohan very well. Xiaohan has a fair face and looks good in yellow; this tender green is also good, it looks like a willow branch in spring; oops, This red is better, what kind of red is this, it's really eye-catching, and it's the best match for us Xiaohan."

"Meihong, mother, you can give it to me if you like." Li Xiaohan said.

"Whatever you said, I already have. At your age, it's time to dress up. Don't be afraid of being tired. Mom will help you dress up when the time comes." Wang didn't accept the move at all, and didn't even raise her head. " Oh, this color with a bit of red and a bit of purple is really fresh, it is the color of the city, my dad, you have such good taste, it is suitable for us Xiaohan."

"Yeah, when I saw it, I felt that it couldn't be more perfect for our Xiaohan, so I bought it back quickly. I almost didn't grab it." Li Xiandong smiled with a smile on his face, with a look of joy on his face.

"Oh, this dark purple one looks good too. It's noble and adds to the occasion. I'll see if Xiaohan wears it to visit the patriarch's house and the third uncle's house to pay New Year's greetings. It will definitely look good."

"Yes, yes, I think so too." Li Xiandong laughed.

…

Li Xiaohan looked helpless next to him.

Very good, after collecting seven colors of cotton collars, she can summon the dragon.

Li Xiaohan was preparing to summon the dragon for the sudden parental love between Li Xiandong and Wang, and Li Hehua came again.

"Xiaohan, Xiaohan, I heard that your father bought you seven colors of fabric to make a collar. Show me quickly."

Li Xiandong went to Fucheng with Li Guiqian's group and bought cotton fabrics together. Li Hehua naturally knew about it.

Half showing off secretly and half embarrassed, Li Xiaohan opened his suitcase and said, "Look, it's all here."

"Wow, wow, it's so beautiful, there are so many colors. This is what the flowers in the city look like." Li Hehua sighed.

"Xiaohan, your father and mother are so kind to you."

"That's for sure." My father even gave me the deed of eighty acres of land without telling the clan leader.

"I heard that the cotton shop in Fucheng has dropped by 30%, and everyone is really going crazy. My dad also bought several pieces of cloth, and it is said that he will save them for big things in the future."

"Then have you bought the collar material for your cotton coat?" Li Xiaohan asked with concern.

"Of course, it is the same pink as you as I have repeatedly told you. Although you have many colors now, you have to wear the same color as me on New Year's Day. We will wear the same color during the Chinese New Year. "

"Sure, no problem." Li Xiaohan responded.

After taking a closer look at the different colors, Li Hehua reluctantly said goodbye and left. Everyone in Li Shengyi's family had to wear new cotton-padded clothes for the New Year, and the female relatives in the family were all busy.

The Chinese New Year that Li Hehua has been thinking about is finally coming.

On the twenty-eighth year, make rice cakes.

This year's newly produced glutinous rice and sticky rice are washed in half, soaked in water for about two hours, and then go to the mill at the entrance of the village to grind into rice cake powder.

The rice cake powder is steamed in a steamer, rolled into balls, cut into strips, and placed on a dustpan to dry. It can be eaten from the first day of the first lunar month to February.

People in Pingshan Village started preparing rice yesterday. There won't be too many people queuing up to make rice in the past two days, and Li Xiandong's family is no exception.

The first bowl of freshly baked rice cakes must be offered to the ancestors in the ancestral hall and given the first bite. Only then will the ancestors feel the sincerity of future generations and bless them with wealth and peace.

Li Xiaohan said, well, maybe it was the people themselves who wanted to take the first bite of fragrant and soft rice cakes that made them think that their ancestors thought so too.

Li Xiandong went to the ancestral hall to deliver rice cakes and brought back extremely shocking news.

"Your Majesty, we have a grandson."

"Ah, when did it happen? Dad, how did you know about it?" Li Xiaohan sat on a stool and quickly cut the rice cake with a bamboo knife, raising his head and asking.

Just like the shoe that he had been thinking about in his heart finally fell, Li Xiaohan didn't have the fear, panic, or eagerness that he thought he would have, but instead felt like the dust had settled.

Some time ago, she finally learned from her cousin Xinhe that the cotton tax was a tax shared by the central government and the feudal princes.

Like the value-added tax of later generations, 50% goes to the local government, that is, the vassal king, and 50% goes to the central government, which is the court represented by the emperor.

Therefore, the emperor not only established a good reputation for his prince in terms of tax exemption, but also began to tighten the money bag of the prince's son.

Without money, what would King Ding's soldiers eat and wear? How to maintain the relationship network of King Qi?

A vassal without soldiers or a vassal with no one to talk to does not have to be obedient.

The tax version of the favor order cuts the vassal king.

When it comes to playing, the emperor knows how to play.

When I love, I give you everything, money, power, and soldiers.

When you don't love, or when you don't love so much, then the money must be taken back, the power must be taken back, and the soldiers must be taken back.

Maybe the emperor even asked the two princes before: I love your brother the most, but it's a pity that your brother is dead. How come you two stinky brothers are not sad at all. Oh, you said you are so sad that you can't help it, then you can accumulate some virtue for your brother, get him a good reputation or something, and give him a good birth in the next life.

Otherwise, how could such a huge tax on cotton and such a government order be issued so quickly and implemented so thoroughly? The two princes probably really wanted to grit their teeth and show their feelings for their brothers.

As a result, the emperor backhand came a grandson.

It would be strange if King Ding and King Qi didn't rebel.

But now it's just a test of the wrestling between the emperor and the princes. With the emperor and me here, the two princes probably don't dare to have that idea. After all, it's not Erfeng who is in the capital. The troops are expensive and quick. Please give in. The two vassal princes were in a fiefdom with high mountains and long roads.

Now let's see if the emperor can clear the way for his grandson before his death while he is still alive. After defeating the two princes, maybe the princes will have to bow their heads and their descendants will be saved.

Li Xiaohan thought it through in his heart, and Li Xiandong was still confused, "The prince is still here, why is it so sudden that he has a grandson?"

His father also divided it for his grandson.

"Xu is related to my grandson. I had a grandson a year ago, and I just happened to tell my ancestors during the Chinese New Year. Dad, don't think about it. Come and help me fry the beans. The rice cake must be paired with bean noodles to be delicious. My hands are sore." "

Yes, it's the Chinese New Year, what a good time to seize it. You have to tell your ancestors everything. Just tell your ancestors that you have paid homage to heaven and earth.

However, there is nothing that can be done about us low-income people, so we might as well just fry beans and noodles in a down-to-earth manner.

=== Chapter === 61

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Early in the morning, the three members of Li Xian's family were busy.

This year is Li Xiandong's first year after the separation of the family. Naturally, he has to live a neat and orderly life with all kinds of etiquette. He must not be looked down upon by others.

In the past, Li Xiaohan would have stood at a relatively detached angle and lived his own life rationally, without worrying about other people's opinions.

Especially during the Chinese New Year, you just need to be comfortable. It's really busy and tiring to celebrate the New Year according to the old customs.

However, once he was completely integrated into the memories and emotions, Li Xiaohan couldn't help but act according to this worldly standard.

The so-called walking in brocade clothes at night without the boast of old friends is like wearing them in vain.

The dough I made overnight last night has all fermented. Wang first checked the fermentation level of the dough and made sure there was no problem, then prepared the fillings with Li Xiaohan. This year they are planning to make steamed buns with three kinds of fillings.

Wang and Li Xiaohan cooperated tacitly and began to prepare ingredients, while Li Xiandong began to boil water and kill chickens. Today, they have to deal with all the chickens for ancestor worship and eating during the New Year.

After more than half a year of living separately, all three members of the Li family have become kitchen experts, including Li Xiandong.

Therefore, the three people were busy, not as much as the whole family, but the old and young men all stood by and did nothing. That's right, I'm talking about the former Li Shengli family.

I saw Li Xiaohan boiling and sterilizing the fresh goat's milk, and then letting it cool. Taking advantage of this time, he beat about a dozen eggs, beat them up, added icing sugar, glutinous rice and goat's milk, stirred slowly, and then Then turn on the low heat and stir while heating, "Mom, I have almost the custard filling here."

"Okay, I've almost chopped the meat here. I just have to wait until it's mixed." Wang said, waving her kitchen knife in front of the chopping board.

The large meat cubes are used to make sauced pork buns. This kind of buns is full of meaty aroma when you bite into it. After eating it in Fucheng, it has become Li Xiandong's favorite.

In addition to sweet and salty fillings, there is also a spicy diced radish filling with minced meat and sauerkraut. Li Xiaohan specially adjusted the spiciness to the mild spiciness of Cantonese people in his previous life, and then added sauerkraut to enhance the flavor. , add icing sugar to neutralize the harshness. There aren't many fillings for this kind of stuffing, but Li Xiaohan has high hopes for it.

After the fillings were ready, it was time to sit down and make the buns. Li Xiaohan and Wang's palms were flying, and the dough between their thumbs and palms was rolled into a round pocket, and the fillings were put in. The opening was slowly closed. The round ones without wrinkles are filled with custard, the ones with wrinkles are filled with soy sauce meat, and the square ones are filled with spicy radish dices.

At this time, Li Xiandong's two chickens were also killed, stripped and cleaned. One-third of the water was put in the bottom of the big pot, and the bamboo rack was placed in the pot. The plump hens were placed in the posture of sacrificing the ancestors, and steamed in the pot over high heat. .

After a while, the aroma of chicken gradually seeped out from the gaps in the pot, and the buns gradually filled dustpan after dustpan.

About half an hour later, Li Xiandong opened the lid, and the aroma of the sealed steamed chicken gushed out, whetting your appetite.

"This chicken is so delicious." Li Xiaohan sighed.

"No, these are good chickens that are fed from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. They are specially raised to celebrate the New Year. They were not cheap when they were bought." Mrs. Wang said with half heartache and half pride. Li Xiandong split up the family late, so he didn't get it. Half a chicken, you can't buy a chicken at a high price to celebrate the New Year. "When next spring comes, our family will have to raise a dozen little chickens."

"Yes." Li Xiaohan responded. In the countryside, how can you do it without raising chickens? Their family already raises two sheep, as well as a dozen chickens.

The whole plate of steamed chicken was brought out of the pot, and the drawers of steamed buns were put in. The fire was lit again. This time, the aroma of wheat gradually floated out, vaguely with milk. And the sweetness of eggs.

"It's cooked, Xiaohan, do you want to try it?" Li Xiandong opened the lid of the pot, picked up a custard bun with a pair of chopsticks, put it in a bowl and served it to Li Xiaohan.

No one has ever tried using goat milk and eggs to make steamed buns.

Once upon a time, there was a man who was busy in front of the kitchen, and then secretly said, "Xiaohan, try to see if it suits your taste. If it does, your mother will, haha."

Then it slowly overlapped with the present.

Li Xiaohan took the bowl and gently cut the bun in half with chopsticks. The creamy yellow filling slowly flowed out, and the sweet smell became stronger.

After the heat dissipated a little, Li Xiaohan picked up a small piece with chopsticks, blew it gently and put it into his mouth.

Well, the pure aroma of eggs and goat's milk doesn't taste as refined as later generations, but the pure taste of that food is better than most.

"Mom, give it a try." Li Xiaohan brought the folder to Wang's mouth. Wang opened her mouth and bit it down, her eyes brightening slightly.

"It's delicious." Ms. Wang made no secret of her joy at the custard buns. They were fragrant and sweet. Who wouldn't like them?

"Dad, you should have a taste too." Li Xiaohan handed a piece to her father.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiandong had already bent down to lift the steamer with a rag, and said in a muffled voice while the steam was steaming, "Wu'er Shijiu Ling 8 One Nine, you two will eat first, and I will take out the steamed buns first, otherwise it will be steamed." It's too much."

"Okay, remember to taste it later." Li Xiaohan said, not daring to disturb her father. It would not be fun to get burned right now.

"become."

Sure enough, Li Xiandong finished moving the steamed buns, put in new buns, covered the pot, and took a bowl with the custard buns to eat. After eating one after another, Li Xiaohan counted, and her father ate three in a row.

"Dad, isn't it delicious?" Li Xiaohan said, and she guessed that no one could refuse this sweet smell.

"Yes." Li Xiandong nodded silently and continued to light the fire.

The blazing flames are burning, and the water vapor is steaming all over the kitchen. The warm feeling seems not only to float from the stove, but also to grow from the body, making people never feel tired.

I finished making the entire first month's buns in the middle of the morning. "Mom, do you want to make lunch?"

"You're still hungry, can I cook something for you?" Wang asked.

"I'm not hungry, Dad, are you hungry?"

"I'm not hungry either."

It was done. No one in the Li family was hungry. They tried to eat while cooking and they were all full.

The three of them looked at each other and looked at each other. In the past, Chinese New Year was always busy. The three members of the Li family had to do hard work. Li Xiandong had always been fetching water and chopping firewood. Wang was killing chickens and removing the feathers. Li Xiaohan was netting I am washing vegetables and things, where can I taste food while working like now, so comfortable and warm.

After thinking about this, the three of them looked at each other and smiled. Compared with the bitterness before, it seemed that the sweetness was sweeter now. My hands are no longer tired, and my body is full of strength.

"Since we're not tired or hungry, let's fry up all kinds of New Year's goods. After the frying, we'll have a good meal at night." Li Xiaohan clapped his hands and said with a smile.

"Um."

This time, the dough is not wrapped into buns, but is added with sugar, stretched into threads, cut into pieces, twisted into twists, wrapped into small dimes, and ready to be put into a pan for frying.

The Li family's oil pan started to heat up. This time the person standing in front of the pot was Mrs. Wang. When it comes to deep-frying, no one in this family knows how to cook it better than Mrs. Wang.

The snow-white lard was scooped out from the lard jar one by one without hesitation, and dropped into the slightly smoking cauldron, where it quickly melted into a pool of yellow lard.

Seeing a slight smoke rising from the pot, Wang put her palms on the oil to feel the temperature, and then said, "Okay, low heat." Li Xiandong pulled out two sticks of firewood in front of the stove.

New Year's snacks made from various flours were brought over, and the ones that were taken out of the pot first were stretched into chopstick-thick balls and sprinkled around.

When the snow-white seeds soaked in oil were put into the oil pan, a burst of oil immediately appeared in the pot, and then slowly became smaller. The seeds became golden, crispy to the naked eye, fragrant and sweet. The smell spreads into the air, filling people with a sense of happiness.

"Here, let me try." Li Xiaohan came up to him with a bowl in hand and waited for the squid to cool down slightly, then he broke off one of the squid with one hand and put it into Wang's mouth, where his hands were busy. inside, and then handed half of it to Li Xiandong, who was squatting to light the fire, and finally put it into his mouth.

"Well, it's fragrant and crispy, and it's fried just right. My mother is good at it." Li Xiaohan praised it while eating.

Mrs. Wang, who was standing by the pot, pursed her lips and smiled. The figure who had always bent down to cut pigweed and wash clothes slowly stood up, her face no longer showing the cowardice and sadness of the past.

After frying and spreading the seeds, small twists as thick as your fingers are put in, fried until golden and taken out. Li Xiaohan quickly sprinkled on a layer of black sesame seeds. The residual oil temperature stimulated the aroma of black sesame seeds, and the aroma in the air became more complex and attractive.

"Come on, let me try first." Li Xiaohan shouted.

Wang and Li Xiandong smiled slightly, and the little girl who had always been a little bit aggressive was back.

Needless to say, the taste of the small twists is a little tougher and chewier than that of Sazi.

The last thing that was put into the oil pan was a small dime. Wang picked up a piece, and Li Xiaohan took it in a bowl. He waited for a while and then broke it open. The peanut icing inside was mixed into a ball. Li Xiaohan Han lowered his head and said, "Mom, it's done."

After the sweet and colorful New Year snacks were fried, after a while, the debris in the oil pan was cleared away, and it was time to fry the big meat.

After being marinated overnight with salt, sugar and various seasonings, the thoroughly marinated pork belly was put into the oil pan. The whole pot of meat quickly rolled and boiled. The color of the meat gradually turned golden, and the aroma of the fried meat began to explode. erupted.

The sharp bamboo skewers were constantly inserted into the pig skin to test the degree of frying of the meat. When the pot is ready, scoop it up. Drain the oil droplets, put them on a wooden plate, and continue to fry the next pot.

"Xiaohan, how are you preparing the meatballs?" Seeing that the pork was almost finished frying, Wang asked.

"Mom, daddy is still making pork meatballs. Let's fry the turnip dough balls first. I'm almost done with this." Li Xiaohan said.

"become."

So the pork belly was picked up, the slightly burnt minced meat in the oil pan was picked up, and the radish dough balls were squeezed out one by one, and fell into the oil pan, gradually turning golden, occasionally turned over, and then Later was fished out.

What comes to mind gradually instead of fried meat is the aroma of vegetables mixed with flour.

"The minced pork is ready." Li Xiandong said.

"Okay, let's blow it up."

The aroma of vegetables and dough was gradually overshadowed by the aroma of pure meat.

Li Xiandong stood in front of the red stove. The flames made his whole body feel hot. All kinds of sweet or salty flavors were inhaled and exhaled. Li Xiaohan's cheerful voice sounded in his ears from time to time.

"Dad, do you like this?"

"Mom, do you like this?"

In the past, the hunger and coldness of carrying water and chopping firewood until I was half full during the New Year gradually dissipated. The feeling of exhaustion disappeared, and the strength and hope in my body seemed to have returned. .

At this moment, there are three people in the kitchen, their bodies are warm and their hearts are full.

At this moment, it seems that all the wounds in the past have been healed, the cold has been driven away, and the loneliness, sadness, and pain have all disappeared, turning into warmth, sweetness, fulfillment, and reunion.

Happiness exceeds every dream I have ever imagined.

Be healed in the fireworks of the world.

This is probably the year.

By the time all the work in the kitchen was finished, it was almost evening.

"Dad, are you going to the old house to give New Year's gifts to your grandfather?" Li Xiaohan asked.

When the family was separated, it was agreed that even if the family was separated, you would not have to bear the main responsibility for support, but you would not be able to omit the etiquette that should be observed during the holidays. You would also have to give rice, grain, money and silver throughout the year. It is as it should be.

Li Xiandong split up the family late this year. At that time, the patriarch said that there was no need to give away the rice, grain, money, and money this year, but the Chinese New Year was a major festival, and festive gifts were indispensable.

"Well, mother, please bring me two strips of fried pork, a jar of wine, a big bowl of meatballs, half a basket of steamed buns and fried goods, and two packets of icing sugar. I'll take them to dad," Li Xiandong thought. After thinking about it, he said.

Now he is living a good life, and he no longer cares so much about his father's injustice in the past, but he still feels a little angry in his heart, whether he shows off secretly or is not convinced, that's how I live now. Well, you were wrong in not seeing it at the beginning.

This boxing gift was pretty good, but Li Xiaohan had questions, "Dad, why did you get two packets of frosting?"

"Your grandfather likes this. He also likes to add some sugar to his plain water." Li Xiandong explained.

"What? Why didn't I know?" Li Xiaohan searched through his memories and found that it was true, but he didn't remember it.

It's just that my grandfather's sugar intake is a bit excessive. How can anyone drink sugar water all the time? "Dad, please tell my grandfather, eating too much sugar is not good."

Be careful about diabetes.

Li Xiandong smiled and said, "How can I eat too much? This icing is so expensive, but it's just to add some fun."

Thinking about it, Li Xiaohan also drank the sugar water at the patriarch's house that was said to be for entertaining guests. It can only be said that it probably tasted like it had added sugar.

Li Xiaohan, who thought he had figured it out, let it go. At this time, Wang's New Year's gift was also ready. Li Xiandong patted his flour-stained clothes and stood up, only to find that he was the only one standing up.

"My mother..."

"Daddy, I have the baby. The road is slippery in the snow and it's getting dark. If anything happens, I won't go there." Ms. Wang lowered her head and said in a low voice.

Mrs. Wang just doesn't want to go back to her old house. Now that she's living a good life, she doesn't want to go back and be angry with her stepmother-in-law.

Li Xiandong thought about it and turned to look at Li Xiaohan, "Xiaohan..."

"Dad, it's cold and I don't want to go out. You tell my grandfather that I'm helping my mother at home. I won't go to pay him New Year's greetings until the first day of the Lunar New Year."

Li Xiaohan didn't want to go either.

In the past, she would definitely accompany her father and stand up for her father, but after taking over the eighty acres of land, Li Xiaohan changed.

Her father is nearly forty and she is only fourteen. At this time, it is time for her father to take on the role of the head of the family.

Anyway, she just didn't want to go, so she just said so. Don't blame her for being unrighteous.

Li Xiandong's face was very distressed, "Then I'll go alone?"

"Yeah, dad, you go ahead." Li Xiao coldly and ruthlessly rejected her pitiful dad, but the remaining affection between father and daughter gave her the final say, "If you don't want to stay longer, you can Just say that we haven't finished everything at home, there are few people, and we have no experience, so you have to come back early to take a look."

"Yes, that's it." Wang nodded repeatedly.

Li Xiandong received the advice and left with the basket.

Li Xiaohan and Wang stayed at home to clean up the kitchen and prepare something for dinner. I spent the whole day trying various kinds of food. I ate a lot of steamed buns, balls, fried twists, and some light vegetable soup in the evening.

The two mother and daughter were discussing and working when suddenly the door was pushed open and knocked down again, and there was a burst of hurried footsteps.

who is it?

Li Xiaohan's first reaction was this, and then she remembered that it was her father.

It's all because her father's time away was too short.

She quickly walked out of the kitchen door and saw that her father was walking back quickly and quickly, as if something was chasing him behind him.

"Dad, what's wrong? What happened?" Li Xiaohan asked, raising his voice.

At this time, Li Xiandong also walked to the kitchen, and was caught by Li Xiaohan and asked. The expression on his face seemed to have woken up from a dream, with an unconscious sense of rebirth after a disaster, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "Ah, nothing happened?"

Li Xiaohan frowned, it didn't look like there was nothing wrong, "It's nothing, why did you come back in such a hurry?"

"The old house is busy, so I'll be back." Li Xiandong walked to the kitchen. It was so cold outside and he needed to warm up.

Li Xiaohan noticed with sharp eyes that the clothes on his father's shoulders were a little thick and wet, but a mark of three knuckles thick in the middle across the entire shoulder was dry. It was the mark of a pole, "Dad, you go to the old house. Carrying water?"

There is no well in the old house, so we have to fetch water from the public well in the village.

"Yes, I'll be back when I'm full." Li Xiandong replied without looking back.

Li Xiaohanjue collapsed.

Do you know what it means to separate a family? There are two families. Her second uncle and third uncle can't work. Her father has to pick up the water.

"Dad, why are you carrying water for them? It's so cold. The second uncle and the third uncle can't carry water." Li Xiaohan felt sorry for her father.

"It's okay. It's awkward to sit there. I picked it out with your second uncle and third uncle. I'll be back when it's full."

"Okay, dad, don't be picky next time, put down your things, say a few words and come back."

"Sure," Li Xiandong replied. When he returned to his home, his entire expression softened.

But Li Xiaohan still had some doubts in her heart. Logically speaking, the task of carrying water would not cause her father to escape back. Could it be that something happened in the old house and her father instinctively felt that something was wrong?

Take a look when I say New Year greetings on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Li Xiaohan reminded himself.

"Okay, dad is back too, let's have dinner."

=== Chapter === 62

On the early morning of New Year's Eve, God is good.

The cold wind that had always been biting in the past has become gentle, and the sporadic snow spots last night have also stopped. The sky is high and the clouds are wide, which makes people feel relaxed at the first sight.

After breakfast, the Li family began to post couplets with the character "Fu" and hang lanterns.

"Dad, where did you buy the couplet? The characters are pretty good." Li Xiaohan opened the couplet with red letters and black background, looked at it carefully and asked.

"Even Scholar Lin from Zhujia Village nearby, he often goes to the West Market to sell stalls. Our clan members always occupy the seat next to him."

Li Xiandong stood on the escalator and tore off the previous couplet with his hands. The last couplet his family had posted was when they joined the family and it was still tight.

The original male protagonist Lin Heng? !

Li Xiaohan wondered why he was so close to his tribe.

"Dad, why are our clan members still with him? Didn't Brother Xinhe say that he would not get involved in the affairs of their Zhu family and Lin family?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"It's okay. Our clan members just set up stalls with him and don't get involved in those things. You don't know that the idea you gave everyone at the market last time was to have everyone put their stalls together in similar ways. Everyone has been doing this ever since. Come on, business has improved a lot. When Scholar Lin saw this, he even wrote the words 'Pingshan Village Li Family' for us, saying that he could tell it was us at a glance. But no, the tribesmen all said it was useful."

After Li Xiandong tore off last year's couplets, he used a fine straw brush to carefully sweep away the dust and debris in the gaps, and continued, "Whether Lin is a stranger or not, he usually writes couplets and the word "blessing" quietly for us. The tribesmen can write, and we can choose from them. I chose this one. He can also write many kinds of blessing characters, all written on a piece of paper, big and small, very beautiful. I came to see him. There are so many people. They are really talented and approachable. Yao Wu Er Er seven five two eight one"

While Li Xiaohan was smearing glutinous rice paste on the back of the couplet, he was complaining about the cleverness of the original male protagonist. Just like that, his father also said that the clan members did not participate in their family's affairs and even helped occupy the stall next to their village. Then He was taking advantage of the situation to intimidate Lin from those who wanted to bully him.

It is expected that if something like the last time happens again, people in your own clan will never stand idly by.

She was just lazy and didn't want to walk to Fucheng in the cold weather. She asked her father to buy the wine, peppers, and peppers she needed to buy. If she paid close attention, she missed these things. It seems that there are no stupid people in this world.

But think about it, after all, he is the original male protagonist who is destined to prosper, and it is good for the villagers to be friends with each other, and they all benefit from each other.

While Li Xiaohan was thinking and working, Li Xiandong had already cleaned up both sides of the door, "Xiaohan, pass me the couplet on the left."

"Hey." Li Xiaohan quickly held up the couplet and handed it over.

"See if it's right?"

"A little to the left, okay, that's it." Li Xiaohan compared seriously.

The two fathers and daughters worked together to carefully paste the couplets with blessing characters on the entrance, the main room, the kitchen, the livestock, etc., and then hung red lanterns with bamboo branches made of bones and red paper made of skin under the eaves. The house soon had that red New Year atmosphere.

"It's so beautiful." Li Xiaohan looked around and sighed.

The antique Sihe courtyard is neatly cleaned and posted everywhere, making it warm and neat. This is your home.

"No." Li Xiandong nodded in admiration.

At this time, Wang's sacrificial dishes were ready in the kitchen: a plump native chicken surrounded by two strips of fried pork belly; the bowl next to it contained three bowls of rice and red dates. There are three bowls of fried snacks, fried snacks and bean paste; I also brought tea cups, wine glasses, teapots and wine bottles. When the time comes, I will serve tea and wine to my ancestors. I must serve my ancestors to eat and drink well, and then bless future generations.

To worship ancestors in Pingshan Village, each family must have a male, but it doesn't matter if they are female, but usually it is the female who arranges the dishes and burns incense.

This year is the first time for Li Xiandong's family to worship their ancestors, so all three members of the family went there to avoid accidents.

"Father, mother, if you are afraid of making mistakes, just follow what the person next to you is doing. You will definitely not make a mistake if you follow it." Li Xiaohan comforted.

In the past, Li Xiandong and the Wang family's two eldest sons and daughters-in-law must be present when worshiping ancestors. However, the family's officiants are Li Shengli and Chen family. Li Xiandong and Wang family can only watch alone, let alone teach anything.

Now that it was the first time that the head of the family was the officiant, the two of them prepared things from memory, but they couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Yes." Li Xiandong picked up the burden, and Wang and Li Xiaohan walked to the ancestral hall with each other.

"Father, mother, if you are still worried, just think that my grandmother is here. If we do something wrong, she will not blame us and will definitely protect us." Li Xiaohan said Make a big move.

As soon as these words came out, Li Xiandong and Wang felt relieved and couldn't help but put smiles on their faces.

Yes, mother will always bless us.

When they arrived at the ancestral hall, there were already other people in the ancestral hall. When they saw Li Xiandong's family, they all said hello, "Xiaohan, Xiaohan's father, Xiaohan's mother."

There were also some older ladies who greeted, "Mom, Xiaohan, come here quickly, there's still a good seat here."

I don't know when, some people gradually called Li Xiandong and Wang, Xiaohan her father Xiaohan her mother. Maybe it came from Eucommia ulmoides, maybe it came from cotton combing, maybe it came from hearing that Xiaohan brewed. The pepper wine starts.

Of course, there are some people who insist on the original name.

Mrs. Wang was very happy to accept this title and was about to go there when Li Xiaohan suddenly shouted in surprise, "Mother Zhao, lotus."

The two people who were placing the sacrifices turned around and replied, "It's Xiaohan, come here, come here quickly."

Mrs. Wang followed Li Xiaohan's footsteps, and the woman who originally greeted her was not annoyed. She was her cousin-in-law. The most important thing was that she had a good relationship. She didn't see Li Xiandong's house this time. When a distinguished guest comes, he drags the Zhao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law over to make money, even if he doesn't want to kiss his sister-in-law.

But the sisters-in-law are not born to the same mother. Hehe, this is indeed not as good as Tang's. At least the parents are different.

"Xiaohan, you're a big girl, come on, follow Hehua. At your age, it's time to learn these etiquettes." Ms. Zhao said to Li Xiaohan with a smile, while Li Jiajin's daughter-in-law was listening to the instructions.

"Hey, Mrs. Zhao, you treat me like a lotus flower and point me out." Li Xiaohan replied with a smile.

She said, find her Aunt Zhao, she is so considerate.

"Let's serve the sacrificial meal first..."

Mrs. Zhao gave instructions to Mrs. Jin of the Li family, Mrs. Wang followed, and Li Hehua and Li Xiaohan followed suit.

When Li Xiaohan and Wang followed Zhao, Li Xiandong looked around and walked next to Li Guiqian - Li Shengyi's daughter-in-law had passed away for several years, and Li Guiqian and his wife had taken over the burden of ancestor worship in the past few years.

When Li Xiaohan watched Wang and others arrange the sacrifices, burn the incense and retreat to the side, he found that his grandparents had already arrived, and her father huddled next to her uncle Gui, and followed her. Grandpa said nothing but could not tell.

So what happened last night that caused her father to be driven back as if he was being chased by a ghost?

Li Xiaohan frowned.

After a while, seeing that the tribe's sacrifices were fully arranged, the tribe leader came with his people. Li Xiaohan could only put aside his doubts for the time being and watch the clan's annual ancestor worship ceremony seriously.

I saw two young people following behind the patriarch, carrying a big pig's head on a dustpan and placing it on the first free altar table. Then candles and finger-thick cigarettes were lit one after another. Li Xinhe took the lead, The standing men knelt down in rows. The patriarch took out a yellowed paper book and began to lower his head and read the sacrificial words: "South of the Weishui River, Li Manjing, the thirty-first generation of the Li family, led all the men. Ding Li Fushan, Li Fushui, Li Xueyi... Li family car, I respectfully invite all ancestors to return to their places. Kneel... get up... knock again... get up again... knock again... get up again."

The entire ancestral hall fell into silence. As the patriarch's voice rose and fell, the men stood up and kowtowed in an orderly manner. The patriarch's wife and the women beside her also bent down and bowed.

The sense of clan belonging suddenly reached its strongest level.

And here is where the most established men of the entire Li family and the women who are the head of the family gather, and the clan's intimidating power is passed down from generation to generation.

The inheritance of a culture cannot be separated from the humanities, politics, and productivity environment of the time. In the current situation, clan culture is indeed the best way to gather people's strength for survival and development.

Li Xiaohan sighed in his heart and lowered his head.

After worshiping the ancestors, the atmosphere in the ancestral hall relaxed, and the women began to burn various gold and silver paper money on the fire plate, and then packed up their own sacrifices.

It was the first time that I was the master of a household and the officiant, and it was done so well, instead of standing aside like a pillar as a symbol of the eldest son. Li Xiandong and Wang were particularly excited. On the way home, there were two His eyes were shining and his steps were brisk.

Back at Li's house, Mrs. Wang once again worshiped her own mother-in-law and worshiped the Kitchen God of Heaven and Earth. This time, Mrs. Li Xiaohan and Mrs. Wang finally had the right to kneel down and kowtow.

Resurrection from the dead, two lives and one soul, Li Xiaohan has experienced it all. Although he doesn't understand it, if there really are gods in the dark, that would be good. The dead have a past life, and the living have hope.

Li Xiaohan gently kowtowed, hoping to bless the people she loves and the people who love her, safety and happiness.

As for Wang and Li Xiandong, they are full of piety and are quite down-to-earth.

After the ancestor worship ceremony is completed, the highlight of the New Year is even half completed, and it is time to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner.

The custom in Pingshan Village is that although it is called the New Year's Eve dinner, the most sumptuous meal is the mid-afternoon meal. After that, the whole family has to wash up and welcome the New Year.

In the kitchen, Ms. Wang was hesitating. According to the custom of Pingshan Village, the dishes for this meal must have an auspicious number. For example, six dishes means "Liu Liu Da Shun", eight dishes means "make a fortune along the way", and nine dishes mean "make a fortune all the way". That is, for a long time, ten dishes will be perfect.

There are only three members of the Li family, so they were already hesitant to eat six dishes, but Wang wanted to make one that was perfect.

When Li Xiaohan heard about his mother's troubles, he took out a few small plates and put a small plate each of the fried jiaozi, peppercorns, twists and fried soybeans, and said easily, "Mom, look at it now, isn't it? Ten dishes."

"Yes, I'm confused." Wang smiled and continued to prepare New Year's dishes.

Chicken is a must-have, good luck; fish is also a must-have, there will be more than enough every year; a bowl of plump and mellow steamed pork with soy sauce is indispensable; a big bowl of warm braised pork ribs and radish soup is a must-have, and it is a must-have. My heart is filled with heat when I eat it; the meatballs are steamed just right; the fried bacon with garlic is stir-fried until the layer of fat is even translucent.

Pure meat, the ultimate New Year's Eve dinner in this era is so luxurious.

"Father, mother, come, I wish our family a new beginning and better things from now on." Li Xiaohan raised a cup of hot almond goat milk tea and said, replacing the wine with tea.

"It's getting better and better." Li Xiandong and Wang reported together.

How good it is to say goodbye to the old past and welcome a new beginning, getting better and better.

After finishing lunch and clearing away the dishes, Li Xiandong began to clean the cooking pot and prepare to boil hot water for the whole family to wash their hair and take a bath.

The New Year's Eve bath must be finished before dark, otherwise something unspeakable will be violated.

In fact, Li Xiaohan suspected that it was too late and it was cold. In ancient times, heating was not possible and it was easy to catch cold and get sick.

However, the origin of things like customs is sometimes unknown, and sometimes it is supported by evidence from elsewhere, and there is some truth that cannot be explained clearly.

The three members of the Li family take turns boiling water and taking baths, which is certainly enough time.

Li Xiaohan was thoroughly washed, wearing her new cotton coat, and drying her hair in the room. It is no exaggeration to say that she felt three pounds lighter. It was really not easy to wash your hair in ancient times.

The fire wall in the room was already burning, and the whole room was warm. Ever since Li Xiaohan said that she liked it warmer, the temperature in her room was obviously a few degrees higher than the next room. This was what Li Xiaohan said again and again. The effect of letting Li Xiandong adjust it downward .

Having a fire wall is more convenient than a fire kang. Li Xiaohan muttered to himself, but he still didn't dare to relax. He rubbed his hair until it was completely dry from the roots, and then wrapped it tightly and went out.

A fire plate had been lit in the main room, and the bright fire light illuminated the room. Li Xiandong climbed on the ladder and prepared to light the lantern.

"Dad, let me hold the ladder for you." Li Xiaohan said hurriedly.

"Sure." Li Xiandong said.

When the two people lit the lanterns, the Li family was shrouded in a hazy red light, looking happy.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Wang has already cooked the sweet glutinous rice dumpling soup for the evening. This evening meal needs to be a little sweet. The first meal tomorrow morning will also be sweet, which means it will be sweet from beginning to end throughout the year.

After dinner, the family gathered around the fire plate and talked in low voices.

Li Xiandong said that he planned to plant something in the land next year, and he would have to start planning after the New Year. The wheat seedlings on the ten acres of dry land owned by landlord Zhang's son were probably frozen. If they couldn't be saved, they would have to change crops. If Li Xiaohan's business of pepper wine can be successful, and he can also grow peppers, but he has never been a fan of peppers, so he doesn't know if he can succeed...

Mrs. Wang said that it was spring, and Li Xiaohan had grown a lot taller, so he had to get the spring decorations ready. The family just happened to buy new cotton cloth at the discount of cotton cloth two years ago. She also said that she was pregnant with a child, and she didn't know whether it was a boy or a boy. For a girl, Ms. Wang said, it would be best if she is blessed with a boy. The Li family has a heir, and Li Xiaohan will have someone to rely on when he gets married. The father and daughter can comfort her and she will be pregnant. There is hope; and the family will definitely have to raise a dozen chickens next year. I originally wanted to raise pigs, but she got pregnant and the three people raising pigs couldn't take care of them...

Li Xiaohan said that she had newly brewed dozens of jars of pepper wine. Before the Lantern Festival, she would go to Fucheng to show the goods to the Qinggang. If they sold well, she would plant more peppers at home next year; she also I have to try other methods of brewing wine. I heard that there is a method of steaming flower dew in the city, but I don't know if this wine can be steamed. Next year, I need to transplant the Panax notoginseng seedlings in the backyard vegetable field to the woodland. Things have to be hidden from the clan members, people are unpredictable, and if someone digs it out, the loss will be huge; and the Eucommia seeds will start to grow seedlings at the end of February, I always feel that the Eucommia silk There are other ways to use it, so you have to try it...

The three of them were talking to each other, not very deliberately, and sometimes they would stop talking. Occasionally, there would be a slight pop of sparks in the fire pan, or two pieces of firewood would be added to the brazier, and they would feel peaceful and full in their hearts. Energetic.

Around midnight, I vaguely heard the sound of firecrackers. Li Xiandong moved the fire tray to the yard, handed Li Xiaohan a stick of incense and a few firecrackers, "Xiaohan, come here, let me light firecrackers for you."

Li Xiaohan took the firecrackers handed over by Li Xiandong, stretched out his hand and lit them with incense. The sound of "pop" was very similar to that of later generations.

The sound of firecrackers in the distance was getting closer and closer, and I could vaguely hear the crackling sound of firecrackers in the direction of the patriarch's house, which seemed to be a signal. Firecrackers sounded from every house one after another, and Li Xiandong also lit a firecracker with quick eyes and hands.

The light of the fire is shining, the sound of firecrackers is heard, and the atmosphere of the New Year is suddenly there.

"Okay. Go to sleep." After burning the firecrackers, Li Xiandong put out the fire plate, and the three members of the family went back to their rooms to sleep.

The room was still very warm. Li Xiaohan was covered with a new quilt and wearing new clothes. Wang and Li Xiandong came over and stuffed a red seal under her pillow. Li Xiaohan touched it and saw that it was broken silver.

I felt very at ease, but there seemed to be firecrackers going off continuously in my dream. As soon as you wake up, it's dawn and it's a new day.

=== Chapter === 63

Early the next morning, Wang adheres to the concept of sweetness from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. In the morning, she eats sweet custard buns and drinks sweet goat milk drink. Of course, the traditional sweet glutinous rice dumpling soup is indispensable. Fortunately, there are other Don't eat all the sweet food until you get tired of it.

After breakfast and putting on new clothes, Li Xiaohan and Wang's pink and red collars finally came in handy. Due to Li Xiandong's firm refusal, there was no embellishment on Li Xiandong's collar. Li Xiaohan could only make one for his father. Cotton hat.

At this moment, the whole family is all dressed in new clothes, starched and straight. After half a year of recuperation, they eat well, work less, and have hope in their hearts. It is as if they are completely different people.

When paying New Year greetings on the first day of the new year, the first person must go to the old house. As long as Li Shengli is still here, this is an unavoidable rule.

Li Xiaohan straightened his clothes, took his mother's elbow, and said boldly, "Let's go."

The family arrived at the old house. They had not seen each other for only half a year, but they seemed to be very strange. Because of the Chinese New Year, the house has been tidied up, and it is clean and tidy. However, the people seem to be very strange. There is a strange fatigue in the familiarity, and a strange excitement in the fatigue.

After taking Li Xiandong's gift basket, Mrs. Chen didn't say anything and just took it to the kitchen. However, Li Xiaohan felt that especially his step-grandmother's attitude was not right, and he felt vaguely arrogant. Mrs. Chen has always been a cautious person, and she shouldn't be.

With doubts in his heart, Li Xiaohan followed Li Xiandong into the main room. Li Shengli, Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi were already sitting on the seats.

"Father/Grandfather, happy New Year." Li Xiaohan followed Li Xiandong and Wang and knelt down in front of Li Shengli. This was kowtow. This is how the Li family has a little bit of inheritance, and the New Year greetings in previous years were also so particular.

"Here you go, sit down." Li Shengli stretched out his hand to help Li Xiaohan, gave Li Xiaohan a red seal, and greeted him.

Li Xiandong and others stood up. Li Xiaohan touched it and found it was a little thin. It was probably two cents. Her father and mother would suffer a big loss.

Sure enough, after kneeling down and worshiping Li Shengli, Li Xiandong brothers met each other and paid their respects to each other. Li Xiaohan, Li Cairong, Li Caihuai, Li Lanhua, Li Caifu and others sent New Year greetings to Li Xiandong, Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi. Li Xiaohan only received three thinner letters. The red envelope is probably worth a penny.

Alas, the red envelope her father and mother brought when they arrived was only two cents a piece, which was a loss in terms of both quantity and quality.

After paying New Year greetings, everyone sat down. Mrs. Chen brought hot tea. Thanks to the family's blessing, Li Xiaohan was now considered a guest and could get a seat.

There is no shortage of topics during the New Year, but this year's topic is so hot. As soon as he sat down, Li Shengli started talking, "This is a good year. The emperor granted a grandson title and exempted the fief from the cotton tax. We often wait. I am grateful for the Emperor's kindness and must follow the Emperor's example. What do you think and do this year? Can you tell me?"

Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows, "Hey, the Li family has actually participated in the discussion of such an important matter. In previous years, shouldn't the topic be the spring plowing of manure seeds and seedlings in the coming year?" !

I saw Li Xiannan below and said, "The emperor is naturally wise. We just listen and learn."

I also saw Li Xianxi saying, "Father is kind and son is filial, brothers and friends are respectful, and it is right for a family to help each other and prosper together."

Li Xiaohan realized that demands are prosperous together.

Then I heard Li Shengli ask, "Cai Rong, you read the most in the family, what do you think?"

I saw Li Cairong saying, "Since ancient times, filial piety and filial piety are filial piety by the way. "Book of Rites" says: 'A filial son is raised by being happy with his heart and not violating his ambition.' Naturally, I have to learn more and be filial to my grandfather. ."

One by one, Li Xiaohan was so disgusted.

Now I finally understand that a grandson who makes these people so proud can't help but take it for himself.

It is estimated that her grandfather watched her father become prosperous one after another this year. The cousins in the family, especially cousin Li Cairong, went to Zhu Xiucai to study. They spent too much money and became impatient, so he took her father and hoped that his father would be successful or even get married. Money helps.

No wonder her father rushed home after carrying water on the night of the 29th year of his life, as if he was being chased by a ghost. My grandfather probably said the same thing, and her father couldn't answer, so he had to run away.

Just as he was thinking about it, Li Shengli had already picked Li Xiandong, and said in a deep voice, "Xiandong, I heard that the noble man came years ago, and your family asked the three wives of your former wife to come over to help. It's only been a few days. For your hard work, you will get ten taels of silver. Don't forget that Xiannan and Xianxi are your biological brothers. You won't still complain about me giving you away, right?"

To complain is to be disobedient, and to be disobedient is unfilial.

Li Xiandong stammered and couldn't say anything.

When he was twenty-nine years old, his father said that as the eldest brother, he should take care of his younger brothers. Now the family is in trouble.

It's just that Li Xiaohan has always been in charge of these matters at home. Li Xiandong couldn't speak and didn't want to say these words, so he had to face his father's shame, escape to fetch water, and come back as soon as he finished fetching water.

Unexpectedly, I escaped two days ago, but I still cannot escape today.

Seeing that his father was in such a difficult situation, Li Xiaohan smiled slightly and interjected, "Grandpa, if you want my father to win over the second and third uncles, that's easy to say. But don't involve the grandson. You know, Your Majesty." The one who died was the eldest son's heartthrob, and the great-grandson succeeded to the throne because of his father. Your eldest son, my father, is alive and well. If you say so, if someone reports it, our family will This is not like talking about the hair in front of the head and piercing the heart of His Majesty and other elderly people."

As soon as these words came out, everyone present, except Li Xiandong's family, all looked stunned, and for a moment they didn't know how to answer.

But after all, he is the smartest scholar in the Li family. Li Cairong reacted first, "Sister Xiaohan, you are wrong to say that. We all hope that His Majesty the Emperor and his old man will be well. Your Majesty, your Majesty the great grandson, He can do whatever he likes, and the world belongs to him."

Li Xiaohan smiled even more happily, without showing any signs of annoyance, "Yes, the eldest grandson and the youngest son are the old man's sweetheart. Isn't our family like this too? We all know that in this family, the elders will be the ones in the future. Brother Rong, my father has divided yours, there is a trace of nonsense there."

His father, Li Xiandong, had almost left home, but he didn't know how much her third uncle's family would receive. Li Xiaohan smiled and turned his attention to Li Xianxi's family, "The third uncle must be a very filial person, Brother Changrong. You do not have to worry about."

Now the faces of Li Xianxi's family turned pale, and Li Changrong's face couldn't stand it anymore.

"Li Xiaohan, how did your parents teach you? The elders are talking, why do you, a girl, get in the way? Do you have any tutoring?" Li Shengli's face turned red and he scolded angrily.

"Grandpa, don't worry, my father is separated, and my tutor can hardly hinder the second uncle and the third uncle. After all, there are two families after the separation."

So don't talk about brothers and father and son, our family only has blood relations.

"However, I still want to say something rebellious, grandfather, we farmers and farmers, don't be too high-spirited, be careful. The emperor's grandson or something is none of our business. You interfere with my father's business Family property, do you think King Ding should be obedient? As the old saying goes, it's up to the person who holds the bowl. It doesn't say that you should be careful when you put down the bowl to curse your mother. After all, we are under the rule of King Ding, so we should be careful. a little."

Until then, Li Xiaohan put away the smile on his face, but he kept a straight face and said something that was even more irritating, "Grandpa, I don't have a good upbringing, so I won't celebrate the New Year here." I'm so angry with you. Mom and Dad, you are not happy for giving birth to a rebellious girl like me. Get up and go to my second uncle's house to pay New Year's greetings."

Li Xiaohan stood up, patted her sleeves, and bent down to salute her grandfather before Shi Shiran walked out.

Li Xiandong and Wang were stunned by Li Xiaohan's output. They followed Li Xiaohan, bowed, and staggered away. It was so real that I couldn't even walk very well.

Only Li Shengli, Li Xiannan, Li Xianxi, and Mrs. Chen who were watching from the outside were so shocked that they couldn't recover and fell down in anger.

"Too arrogant, too arrogant, who could let her be like this? She has no respect for her elders! She has sharp teeth and a sharp mouth!"

Li Shengli was aroused to the point of incompetence and rage, but Li Xiaohan walking outside was not as arrogant as Li Shengli thought.

To put it bluntly, having the upper hand for a moment is nothing, it is just the joy of fishing for the moon in the sky.

In essence, her grandfather's family can't help her father because of the accumulation of Eucommia ulmoides, fruit pickers, and cotton combs. Now their family has a strong reputation and good fortune, while her grandfather and the others are weak. As long as her father follows the family separation documents In terms of behavior, no one will find fault with their family.

However, this is all based on the premise that her cousin Li Cairong did not pass the scholar examination.

Once her cousin passes the examination like the scholar in the original book, it will be a heavy weight added to the grandfather's side, and it is not necessarily true that one is heavier and the other is lighter.

Don't underestimate the power of a scholar. They are here on the western border and there are few scholars. His cousin has not been crowned a scholar in the past few years. He has unlimited potential. Not to mention their family, when the time comes, they will all It is also possible to cultivate clan power. After all, in this dynasty, it is normal for one person to take the lead and lead the entire clan.

Looking at their ancestors of the Li family, it is said that they are also capable people. After many generations, the mountain land in the clan is said to be derived from the wisdom of the ancestor who bought the clan land.

Therefore, in this era, her cousin is really difficult to deal with.

Li Xiaohan thought in his mind, but there is no solution. A potential scholar is important, but after all, it is an invisible benefit. Then there are visible benefits that bind the clan members to her car. On the chariot.

There are always more methods than problems, so take your time.

"Xiaohan, Xiaohan."

Li Xiaohan was thinking about it when he suddenly heard his parents calling him. He turned around in confusion, "Father, mother?"

"We, we have to go home first to get the New Year gifts and then go to your second uncle's house." Li Xiandong explained.

"Oh, yes." Li Xiaohan came to his senses, turned around and walked home, "Mom and dad, do you think I shouldn't say that?"

"No, no." Ms. Wang shook her head repeatedly. At that moment, Ms. Wang's eyes just glowed when she looked at her daughter.

Great, this is her daughter, she spoke so well, she said what was in her heart. Go back and burn three sticks of incense for your mother-in-law. This is like your mother-in-law, for sure, for sure.

As expected, he was sleeping on the same bed. Li Xiandong said with a naive smile, "She looks like your grandmother." It was self-evident who this grandmother was.

The three of them went back to get the New Year's gifts for Li Shengyi, especially the pepper wine designated by Li Shengyi. The rest were white flour buns and fried snacks made at home.

However, halfway through, Li Xiandong remembered and worried, "Xiaohan, if you talk to your grandfather like this, will it have a bad reputation for you if word gets out?"

If I had known, he would have rejected his father on the 29th day.

"It's okay. If you dare to talk about your grandson, Prince Ding, and my grandfather and the others don't dare to tell anyone, cousin Cai Rong will know the importance of it." Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

The matter of the grandson is somewhat similar to that of his cousin. Maybe it was his cousin who wanted to start a conversation with the grandson, otherwise the old Li family would not have such a person with such a twisted mind who could just benefit from it.

But for those who have a lot of thoughts, they will definitely scatter their thoughts after thinking about King Ding at the end.

For people like her cousin, you have to guard against his overthinking and counterattack with his overthinking.

Li Xiandong was relieved when Li Xiaohan said this.

After a while, they arrived at the door of Li Shengyi's house. Today, the door of Li Shengyi's family was wide open. Putting aside those dirty things, Li Xiaohan walked in with a smile, "Second uncle, your first uncle, your second uncle, Zhao Boniang, Liu Boniang, Jia Jin brother, Jia Yin brother, Jia Cai brother, Brother Jiabao, the two sisters-in-law, Hehua, Brother Dou, Brother Gua, and Brother Cai, here we come."

This long list of people can't be read in one breath. The second uncle's family is really prosperous.

"Ah, it's Xiaohan, Xiandong and Sister Wang here. Come in, come in, we're waiting for you." Mrs. Zhao greeted them with a smile.

"Xiaohan, you're here. Come quickly." Li Hehua simply ran out, took Li Xiaohan's hands, and carefully looked at the red cotton collar around her neck, "You are indeed wearing the same color as me. ."

"Of course, I can still lie to you. We agreed that we would be together today." Li Xiaohan raised his head and said proudly, "Li Hehua, what do you mean, you dare to doubt me."

"Yes, it's my fault, it's my fault." Li Hehua smiled and took Li Xiaohan's hand, "Come, let's pay New Year's greetings to my grandfather, and I'll ask my grandfather to give you a big red envelope. Hehe, my grandfather has been very generous this year. "

Sure enough, the two of them came to the main room together and kowtowed to the leader Li Shengyi to celebrate the New Year. Li Xiaohan received a particularly thick red envelope, and the ones given by his uncle and his uncle were not too thin, probably because they felt that She is the only one in their family, and she is paying the difference to her parents.

Because the red envelope for her grandfather cost two cents, her father couldn't pass it. The red envelope here also cost two cents. However, Li Xiandong and Wang specially brought a lot of fried snacks. At this moment, Mrs. Zhao was thinking about it. He said, "What are you bringing so many snacks for? No matter how much you bring, it won't be enough for them to eat. Just try the taste. Just keep it for Xiaohan to appease his mouth."

"Oh, mother-in-law, you are still worried about me. I have eaten enough by the stove. Don't let Brother Dou and the others eat the square buns. Bring the ones with pepper for everyone to have a fresh taste." Li Xiaohan smiled.

"Haha, he is just a clever guy. OK." Ms. Zhao said with a smile.

Next to him, Brother Dou and his two younger brothers were walking around Mrs. Zhao and said, "Grandma, grandma, I want to eat, I want to eat."

Ms. Zhao divided a piece of twist into each person, and put the rest on plates and placed them on the table. Only Dou Geer and others ate with their mouths full, "It's delicious, the twist at Uncle Xiandong's house is delicious."

For a moment, the hall burst into laughter.

The men were talking about when to plow the fields for next year's crops, and they all said that they had made new cotton-padded clothes this year, and next year they could grow more wheat and less cotton; the women were talking about food, clothing, and clothing for their poultry, and Mrs. Zhao told Mrs. Wang. They will help hatch some chicks next spring; Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua are muttering about today's hair accessories, how much they have grown and whether they have turned white; Brother Dou is walking around with his two younger brothers.

Just as he was talking enthusiastically, suddenly, the sound of Brother Gua and Brother Dou came from the side. Looking closely, these two little guys were crying while eating the square buns.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Ma and Han ran over quickly.

"Ah, how did these two little guys eat those spicy radish buns?" Li Xiaohan shouted.

"Aunt Xiaohan, it's delicious." Brother Dou raised his head and said with tears and runny nose on his face. He kept nibbling the buns in his mouth, and he didn't feel cold.

These two smart little guys had just heard that they were not allowed to eat it, so they ate it secretly while the adults weren't paying attention. Sure enough, even a seven or eight-year-old dog would be disgusted. Brother Dou is celebrating the Chinese New Year, but he is just seven years old.

"That's the pepper bun, right?" Li Shengyi put his head over and said, "It's okay. I'm still crying while eating it. Steam it for them before eating it. Steam the rest and let everyone have a taste." "

Li Shengyi spoke, and Ma and Han took the buns from Brother Dou'er and Brother Gua'er, and put the rest in the steamer to steam and eat. Of course, the tatters the two gnawed on belonged to their two little brothers, and neither their parents wanted to pick them up and eat them.

Steaming buns is very fast, and the two are not strangers.

"Well, it's quite strong. It's a pleasure to eat it with some porridge." Li Shengyi commented while eating.

Li Xiaohan made the buns this time not with pure peppers, but with pickled spicy radish, which was not that exciting. Moreover, the skin and meat of the buns were used to neutralize it, and everyone accepted it very well. It doesn't matter if it's not very good. If you divide it, it's only half for each person. Just try the taste and it's gone.

"Xiaohan, are these pepper seeds expensive? I heard your father say how many acres are you going to plant for wine this spring? Do you know how to plant them?" Li Shengyi. asked again.

"It's average. It's neither cheap nor expensive. I heard it's similar to growing vegetables. It's durable. You've tried my wine and I think it can be sold. Second uncle, do you want to grow some and make some wine? I can't teach you how to make wine, but I can teach you how to make pickles." Li Xiaohan said, seemingly innocent.

"Okay, then I will plant a dozen or so in the vegetable garden and pickle some vegetables to try. I'll have some of your pepper seedlings at the Spring Equinox. Well, I'll let you, Auntie Zhao, exchange chicken cubs for you."

Li Shengyi has lived for a long time, so he naturally knows what Li Xiaohan means. Why did Li Xiaohan send these pepper buns and pepper wine out for no reason? If this pepper is really edible, when the time comes, Growing peppers is also a good business. Let's test the water first to see if it can be grown and if it can be popularized.

"Sure, I'll change it with my second uncle then." Li Xiaohan knew that people at that time valued land, especially Li Shengyi's family, who had a lot of land but little land, so he naturally used every bit of land cautiously. of. He exchanged it for a chicken, just because he didn't want her to suffer a loss.

Having settled this matter, everyone couldn't help but talk for a while about the pepper buns and the jar of pepper wine that Li Xiaohan gave to Li Shengyi - which was stored away by Li Shengyi. Li Shengyi's family is very optimistic about Li Xiandong's family growing peppers. With their skills in brewing wine, they have no worries.

Brother Dou and Brother Gua were still savoring the taste of the spicy radish cubes. Their expressions were just like those children in later generations eating spicy strips.

Li Xiaohan squinted his eyes for a while, thoughtfully, but let go after a while. Forget it, when doing business with children, you have to pay close attention to food safety, which is troublesome.

After talking about these things, Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi brought Li Cairong and others over to pay New Year greetings, and the atmosphere calmed down a little.

Li Xiaohan squinted and watched as the red envelopes her second uncle gave to her cousins were taken out of different pockets - just now her second uncle gave her the red envelopes from the right pocket, but now she gave them to her cousins. Taken from the left pocket.

For a moment, she smiled like a little fox who had stolen some wine. Only her second uncle kept a straight face, as if nothing had happened.

After a while, everyone said goodbye together. They had to go home to get the gifts and take a walk at the patriarch's house.

The etiquette for going to the patriarch's house is similar to that of going to Li Shengyi's house, but there are many people in the patriarch's house, so everyone sat down for a while and then left.

Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua, the patriarch's daughter-in-law said, "Oh, they really look like biological sisters born from the same parents, the two flowers are the same. This collar is so pretty, and the hands are so skillful."

Then he talked about his collar for a while, took a sip of hot water, and left.

There are really too many people. The patriarch's daughter-in-law can say a few words to everyone because she is good at dancing.

However, before leaving, Li Xiaohan squinted his eyes and looked at Li Xinhe, who was newly dressed and accompanying the guests, and thought to himself: By the way, her brother Xinhe has been a high school student for a few years, why didn't he become a scholar later?

A unique scholar is valuable, so just let Li Cairong not be a unique scholar.

There is no value in having too many talents. If you have to cultivate one, then Li Xinhe is naturally the best, both for the clan and for their family.

"Dad, is it good for Brother Xinhe to study? Can you tell me about it?"

"Brother Xinhe, you are smart in studying, but you are just a little unlucky..."

=== Chapter === 64

According to Li Xiandong, Li Xinhe is a good scholar everywhere, smart, diligent and approachable, but he is not very lucky.

It was successful in the early days. First, I started enlightenment with a gentleman from the clan, and then successfully passed the first level of scholar examination - the children's examination. Later, I went to the city to study, and also became a good teacher, and passed the second level of scholar - He passed the government examination and passed the childbirth qualification.

Then, Li Xinhe's luck began to go bad. The husband in his city died of illness. Then, although his husband was talented, he had a rather weird personality, which offended some people. Li Xinhe was not willing to find the deceased husband. My opponent was my teacher, so I went back to the clan to study, thinking that I could slowly find him, but unexpectedly I never found a suitable one.

I heard that there were a few classes that either stopped opening after high school, were full, or had their places taken. There were always a few accidents, and then Li Xinhe was delayed.

Later, when Li Xinhe reached the age of eighteen, there was a stipulation in the clan rules that in order to prevent the clan members from becoming too obsessed with fame and eventually becoming useless scholars, they recommended that the eighteen-year-olds who had not obtained the qualifications to be born as boys should not If you don't delay yourself, you can start a family and start a career while studying.

Therefore, although Li Xinhe obtained the qualification to give birth to a child last year, he also married a wife, had children, and helped with family affairs. It happened that the husband of the family was old and not in good health, so Li Xinhe helped out and sometimes helped with teaching.

Li Xiandong said that Zhu Xiucai in the next village was actually quite good and very close. He said before that Zhu Xiucai would not accept people with foreign surnames, but later he did, but Li Xinhe didn't know why he didn't go.

Based on Li Xiandong's information, Li Xiaohan concluded that Li Xinhe was a talented scholar, but he was not very lucky. He also had the spirit of a scholar, so he was delayed.

Li Xiaohan felt that it was a little difficult to handle. Sometimes luck is part of strength. A true born scholar will be so smart that people will make exceptions. For example, Lin Heng, the original male protagonist of the next village, it is said that Zhu Xiucai received the first A disciple with a foreign surname is Lin Heng. Later, after Lin Heng passed the scholar examination, he directly entered Qingshan Academy in Fucheng with the first place, and he took off all the way.

Therefore, Li Xinhe's qualifications should not be too good, but he doesn't feel that they are very bad. He is only nineteen years old now. Under such poor teaching conditions, he can still pass the entrance examination, which is considered promising at a young age.

And what's rare is that although Li Xinhe has the feeling of a scholar, he is very pragmatic and flexible in his actions and words. It is probably because he has been taken by the patriarch to teach him and has been exposed to more human affairs.

If Li Xiaohan said that if the Li family really wanted to have a scholar who could lead the whole family, then Li Xinhe would be much more reliable than Li Cairong. Li Xinhe is the kind of person who can really do things and has a clear mind. Such people will be grateful.

Her cousin Li Cairong, and it's not Li Xiaohan's exaggeration, he has never had any contact with the world since he was a child. He has no knowledge of worldly affairs and is useless. The best way to describe him is a scholar.

What's even more frightening is that his mind is completely distorted. Once he is really lucky, let alone flying with the whole clan, he will probably want to forget his humble origins as soon as he turns around.

Having made a choice, Li Xiaohan began to secretly search for information about Li Xinhe during the Chinese New Year. Unfortunately, the people in the clan knew about Li Xinhe about the same as her father. They all worshiped Li Xinhe blindly, and there was not much useful information.

Li Xiaohan couldn't catch Li Xinhe and ask himself, Brother Xinhe, why didn't you pass the examination as a scholar? Do you want to become a famous teacher? This is like stabbing a knife into the heart.

Fortunately, this matter is not urgent, just take your time.

During this year, she did not find out more relevant information about Li Xinhe, but gained something else.

The reward is that her spicy dried radish has become popular among the children in the clan.

It's so magical. The peppers she has been trying to promote have been cooked several times, but either Li Xiandong and the Wang family thought it was too spicy, Li Xinhe thought it was a bit indecent to eat, or Zhao thought it was too spicy. It was too time-consuming and I could never find a good starting point, so unexpectedly it became the favorite snack of the children in the tribe.

Well, it's probably the alternative country version of La Tiao.

The cause was the spicy radish buns that Brother Dou and Brother Gua ate secretly. After the two little guys ate it, they felt it was very fresh and exciting, so every time they met a friend during the New Year, they would brag about it for a while.

The world of children is also very real. Some of them don't believe it, and some are very curious, but they all want to have a taste. So, starting from the third grade of junior high school, children from the village would break in through the open door of Li Xiandong's house from time to time.

Usually, Brother Dou and Brother Gua came with a few children. They raised their heads to Li Xiaohan and said, "Aunt Xiaohan, the spicy radish buns you made will make your mouth numb after eating them." Yes, my heart is burning. They say they don't believe it, tell them quickly."

What could Li Xiaohan do? During the Chinese New Year, Li Xiaohan could only invite Brother Dou and his friends to try the spicy radish buns.

Later, the reed buns were gone. Originally, there weren't many buns with this unique flavor, and some were given away as gifts. However, during the Chinese New Year, all the children in the clan ran wild together, so Li Xiaohan simply made the spicy buns. Take out the dried radish and give it to these children as snacks.

Who knows, this spicy dried radish is even more appealing to children, especially those aged six, seven to 11 or 12 years old, because this spicy dried radish is exciting, crunchy, fun and delicious. .

So, Li Xiaohan discovered that he was wrong. The information given by children is the most accurate information. Only they care about whether it tastes good or not. Li Xinhe cares about the food being indecent, and Mrs. Zhao only cares about wasting oil and water. , her parents, Li Xiaohan suspected that his parents couldn't let go, thinking that this was medicine, after all, it was originally prescribed for Wang's personal care.

During the Chinese New Year, the most leisurely time of the year, Li Xiaohan took a group of children to test the taste of ancient pepper and the local version of hot pot base Malatang.

"Aunt Xiaohan, today's bean paste is more delicious than yesterday." Brother Dou held up a piece of bean paste and stuck out his tongue while not forgetting to put it into his mouth while holding up a piece of bean paste. He took the time to reply.

"Today's meatballs are also more delicious than yesterday's." Gua Geer held up a chopstick, inserted a meatball, and gnawed on it.

"You say this every day, sister Xiaohan, when I eat this bean paste, I think it's a bit spicy." Hua'er, the daughter of the Dashan family, said.

"But, you girls, you just can't do it. If you ask me, it needs to be a little spicier to be exciting enough." A boy next to him, who was probably looking at a boy in his early ten years, said boldly.

"Er Zhu, you can't do it. You were so hot yesterday that you shed tears." Hua'er countered.

"Nonsense, I wasn't so spicy that I shed tears. I was... I was. I accidentally got it on my eyes. Didn't Miss Xiaohan say that if the pepper gets into my eyes, I will shed tears easily? This is normal." Erzhu argued, holding his neck.

"Yes, yes, you can't get this pepper in your eyes." Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "I'll adjust it again. Come back tomorrow."

"Wow, okay, I can do it, I will come on time." Brother Dou took the lead in cheering.

"And me, and me."

"Xiaohan, you are manipulating them again."

At this time, two women walked in from outside the door and put down the small baskets containing watercress, radish and bean dip in their hands. It was the Chinese New Year, and Li Xiaohan was entertaining children at home, so the people who came to the door brought With these ingredients, we already have them at home, and it doesn't cost much. My children can still eat them. Speaking of it, my family still took advantage, but the people in the clan, who were related by relatives, did not calculate it so seriously.

"Er Zhu, don't make trouble, or your father will beat you when you go home." A woman warned Er Zhu.

"I know, mother." Erzhu shrank his neck.

"Aunt Chen, don't say that about Er Zhu, he helped a lot." Li Xiaohan said, Er Zhu, this little boy, is quite representative.

Aunt Chen, Erzhu's mother, smiled and rolled her eyes, but she said, "He just likes to eat. He complains about hunger all the time. He must have eaten a lot in the past few days. This child is just greedy. Just don't dislike it."

It seems that traditional Chinese parents like to belittle their children in front of other people's praise. Li Xiaohan could not change this concept, so he could only change the subject and said, "Aunt Chen, are you looking for me or my mother? What's wrong? ?"

"Hey, I would have forgotten if you didn't tell me. I'm looking for your mother to wish you a happy new year. By the way, I'll take a look at how your cotton collar is made." Aunt Chen said embarrassedly. , and thought it was not obvious to take a look at Li Xiaohan's cotton collar.

Oops, it's goose-yellow today, and my face is so tender.

Li Xiaohan has become numb to such gazes. What is popular in the New Year is not only the spicy dried radish that children like, but also the various detachable cotton collars that make many women crazy.

That's true. In the past few days, I don't know whether they are coming to pay New Year's greetings and ask for advice on how to make cotton collars, or they want to ask how to make cotton collars and come to pay New Year's greetings. There are batch after batch of women.

Li Xiaohan is now the first person to lead the trend of the Li family in Pingshan Village. Whenever she changes to a new color cotton collar, it will cause a round of topics.

"Then Aunt Chen, go ahead. My mother is in the main room. My mother has done a great job with this collar." Li Xiaohan said helplessly.

"Hey, let's go then." Aunt Chen said with a smile, reluctantly taking another look at Li Xiaohan's neck. It's so beautiful and pretty.

Li Xiaohan just pretended not to see it.

After the tenth day of the first lunar month, Li Xiaohan finally prepared the pepper base that was most suitable for the taste of ancient children, and finally said goodbye to the women who came to see her cotton collars - she had already changed seven of them, but Everyone refused to believe that she only had seven. After the seventh day of the lunar month, the woman still came to see her, and she didn't give up until the tenth day of the lunar month.

Now Li Xiaohan no longer wears the colorful cotton collar, and is only willing to change it back to the original one-color collar. Li Xiandong and Wang are very sorry. For example, at this moment, Li Xiandong looked at her neck and hesitated to speak.

Why don't you bring it with you? It's so beautiful.

Li Xiaohan practiced so much that he could not see it. He only poured down the newly brewed pepper wine and tasted it carefully before saying, "This batch is done. Dad, we have to find a day to make ten." I'll go and show it to the Qinggang at Five-Yuanxiao Festival. If it doesn't work, we'll find Tongfu Restaurant."

This batch of pepper wine is the 20 taels of gold and 20 taels of silver given by Zhang Fu. It paid for the labor fees for Zhao's mother-in-law and others and the cost of buying vegetables. The remaining labor fees and goat milk were given to Li Xiaohan's family. The secret recipe for drinking. Later, Li Xiaohan asked Li Xiandong to use the money to go to the tavern to buy another batch of wine, and then went to Renhetang to buy new peppers and other ingredients to prepare it. It's been almost a month now and I can drink it.

"Is it 120%? I'll go borrow a bullock cart from the clan leader's family." Li Xiandong said.

Although he believed Li Xiaohan, in this wing, there were 10 jars of one-pound and ten-jin jars of 50-pound wine in this wing, which cost nearly 80 taels of silver; there was also 16-pound turbid wine. There are 10 jars each of jin and ten jin, which cost nearly 50 taels of silver; there are also various kinds of pepper spices, which cost nearly 150 taels. Li Xiandong has never made such a big deal. If he doesn't sell it for a day, his heart will be hung up.

"Okay, let's make it twelve." Li Xiaohan poured another jar of fine wine and tasted it carefully.

Well, now that I have become proficient in my skills, both groups are better than the first time, more harmonious and more domineering.

On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, the New Year atmosphere was still there, and Li Xiandong drove the patriarch's ox cart to the city.

There are so many ox carts borrowed from the clan leader's house. In the past, the clan leader didn't care. He just wanted to serve his cow well and eat well, and then just bring a vegetable or half a bucket of rice to the clan leader's wife. But this time, the clan leader He specifically said that if he wanted to buy a small jar of fine wine, he would pay the market price and sell it to him. How could Xiaohan earn Patriarch Li's money? However, according to the reasoning, he charged the patriarch a cost price.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan has more confidence in his pepper wine. It is a cold day in the first month, and he is full of hope while sitting on the bullock cart.

Perhaps God was kind, the weather was very good before and after the Chinese New Year, with no frost or snow, and the two quickly arrived at the West Market. The Qinggang's shop in Fucheng is at the entrance to the West Market.

This is the first time for Li Xiaohan to come to this shop. It may be because of the Chinese New Year. There are not many people in this shop. There are only a few people and one Ma Wu guarding the shop listlessly.

There are cotton combs placed on a stand at the door, but if you look closely, it seems that most of them are not made from Pingshan Village Dianthus. Apparently the Qinggang has purchased cotton combs from other villages. But think about it, the combs made by the people in Pingshan Village are still not enough to supply Qinggang, not to mention that Qinggang is a shop opened by several nearby cities.

Going inside, the goods are arranged in a slightly messy, rough and irregular manner.

The most conspicuous thing is a pile of furs at the door, but there is no subdivision. Li Xiaohan looked at it. Wolf skins, fox skins, rabbit skins, and some unfamiliar animals were all piled together; then on the left were various porcelains with thin necks. There are vases, big-bellied porcelain vases, and small wide-mouth vases, which are not easy to classify; after entering the vases, there are gold, silver, lacquerware, and enamel; and then on the right are various horse gear, boots...

Qinggang's shop is really extensive, and the money they earn is probably the difference between the north and south prices for their own shipments.

While walking, he evaluated in his mind. When he saw Ma Wu sitting next to the counter, Li Xiaohan smiled and said, "Brother Ma Wu, happy New Year. I wish you a prosperous business and abundant financial resources."

Ma Wu remembered Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong, and now he considered himself a serious businessman. The most important thing for a businessman was to be friendly and make money. So Ma Wu showed a smile that he thought was kind, "Miss Li, happy New Year. Do you want to buy something?"

Li Xiaohan's Li family, Ma Wu has already remembered it, and it is deeply engraved in his mind. First, he was a farmer who was considered by his eldest brother not to be robbed, and then he showed the Li family's fighting courage in the market, and finally he actually returned the favor. I was able to negotiate a business deal with my eldest brother.

"Brother Ma Wu, I'm not here to buy things today, I'm here to sell things. What I'm selling is this pepper wine. Is your elder brother here?"

Hearing that he was here to sell things, Ma Wu's interest dropped instantly and he had no chance to make money. However, due to Li Xiaohan's past experience, Ma Wu still said feebly, "Brother is not here, he has gone out."

Since I started to do serious business, my eldest brother was really busy during the Chinese New Year, managing everything and being extremely cautious. Hey, Ma Wu also wanted to drink with his brothers, but the eldest brother said that he was lucky and had the foresight, so he let him keep the shop here.

"It doesn't matter that Gang Leader Ye is not here. Brother Ma Wu, you are also a big shot. Come on, I'll invite Brother Ma Wu to taste the wine. I wonder if Brother Ma Wu will give me the honor?" Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

The leader of the Qing Gang is not here, and there is no one who can make the final say, which is indeed more troublesome, but Ma Wu is not bad, after all, everyone has dealt with each other before, which is better than the stranger.

Try wine, Ma Wu's eyes lit up when he mentioned this. Although he can't drink with his brothers during the Chinese New Year, it's good to give wine a try.

Seeing Ma Wu's eyes brighten, Li Xiaohan smiled even more happily. He took out a clay bowl from the basket on his back, opened the small jar of turbid wine he had brought over, and poured half of the bowl for Ma Wu.

Seeing this wine, Ma Wu's face showed disappointment. He knew this wine. The 15 cents and taels of turbid wine in Lao Qiu's tavern on the next street were all in the same jar. He was used to drinking it.

Better than nothing.

Ma Wu took the wine bowl, raised his head and poured it into his mouth...his eyes widened in an instant. What kind of wine was this? This could never be the old Qiu family's dirty wine.

The entrance is overbearing, and a strong fire burns all the way from the throat, burning all the internal organs of the person.

It's so enjoyable.

It should be the wine drunk by men like them who lick blood from their swords!

Li Xiaohan looked at Ma Wu's expression of shock and enjoyment. Like a little fox, he opened another jar of wine and poured another bowl for Ma Wu. "Brother Ma Wu, try this again."

Ma Wu raised the bowl and tasted the wine carefully. It still had a strong taste, but the wine taste was stronger, more mellow, and the aftertaste was longer. If it was exciting just now, now it is enjoyment. Enjoy the heat and passion rising from your body to your heart.

Ma Wu squinted his eyes and clicked his lips as he savored the wine.

"Brother Ma Wu, how about my wine? Am I qualified to discuss business with the Qinggang?"

"This wine of yours is good, but we have traveled all over the country and haven't tasted any wine. We, the leader of the gang, have to make a decision about this wine."

The Youth Gang must win this wine, but Ma Wu is self-aware of himself. This wine must be very expensive. He...he is not good at bargaining. The gang leader is not here, and neither are the others. He cannot reveal what he wants first. Eyes.

"It doesn't matter. Thanks to Brother Ma Wu, we are already happy. These two jars of wine are given to Brother Ma Wu." Li Xiaohan said generously, "I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. We did a business during the Lantern Festival, but it doesn't seem to matter now. Let's look for something else. Brother Ma Wu, let's go first."

Li Xiaohan said generously, then handed the two small jars of wine to Ma Wu and left.

Ma Wu held the two jars of wine and looked at Li Xiaohan's back as he walked away gracefully. He felt extremely embarrassed and wished he could call Li Xiaohan back right away. However, I remembered that their gang leader would be away for a while, and no one would make a decision when he came back, so I could only bite my tongue and endure it.

As soon as Li Xiaohan and her father walked away, Ma Wu immediately turned down her face and chased away the guests, "Let's go, let's go, we're closed, hurry up and leave."

There were not many customers, and they were just hanging out in the shop, broadening their horizons, and killing time. Unexpectedly, someone dared to sell business to the Qinggang. They were all eavesdropping on the side.

Now that the father and daughter left, Ma Wu actually closed the door to chase away the guests. They didn't miss Ma Wu's drinking expression just now. The brave ones couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ma Wu, Is that wine really that good?"

Ma Wu glared with a stern look on his face and shouted, "Whether it tastes good or not is none of your business, so hurry up and leave."

The person who asked the question was not afraid and left with a smile. In fact, it was because Ma Wu didn't look very scary in the Qing Gang that the leader of the Qing Gang let him come out to look at the shop. It was Ma Wu himself. Just no points.

After driving away those customers who just didn't want to buy, Ma Wu quickly closed the door. He had to go back to find the gang leader. He didn't hear Li Xiaohan say, they should try other methods. What kind of wine is this? , must be taken, and must not be taken first by others.

Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong didn't know that Ma Wu had closed all the shops after they left, and now they were driving the ox cart to the grocery store.

Li Xiaohan was inspired a lot by cooking Malatang with the hot pot base for the kids during the Chinese New Year. She was wondering whether to buy a small charcoal stove and make it into a small cart, and then match it with a pot, so that it could be placed The stall is open for business.

"Xiaohan, those two jars of wine were just given away." Li Xiandong asked. He felt sorry for the two jars of wine. The total cost of the two jars of wine was 400 yuan.

"Dad, it doesn't matter. This is all an upfront investment. I will definitely earn more from the Qinggang." Li Xiaohan said.

Li Xiandong was relieved when he heard that he could make money back. The two of them went to the grocery store together. Small charcoal stoves were common, but there were ready-made ones, except for the cart.

There were not many customers in the grocery store. The shopkeeper listened carefully to Li Xiaohan's idea and then said, "The food you want to sell at this stall is not ready-made, but you can order it from the carpenter's shop. It's just that the carpenter's shop The shop's son has returned to his hometown to get a wife, and he will not come here until after the Lantern Festival. Don't worry, he is already familiar with the cooking. He knows the dimensions of the charcoal stove and will be able to cook it well for you."

"Ah, that's okay."

Li Xiaohan could only buy a charcoal stove and go back to try it out, and he would make the matching cart when the carpenter's family came back from the wedding.

During the Chinese New Year, although most businesses are open, there are not many things to buy. Most of them are busy preparing for the upcoming Lantern Festival, which must be a lively scene.

I hope that the leader of the Green Gang can come back before the Lantern Festival and negotiate this deal. Don't miss this big festival.

Li Xiaohan was sitting on the back of the bullock cart, and the two wine jars he came with were replaced by charcoal stoves, and he was thinking unsteadily.

On the early morning of the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, the sun actually showed its face faintly today.

The Li family had just finished breakfast. Li Xiandong wanted to take advantage of the good weather today to overhaul the spring plowing trucks, harrows, and hoes. Although their things were newly purchased, they wanted to take advantage of the good weather today to repair them before spring plowing. Li Xiandong has always been accustomed to making preparations so as not to be in a hurry when he needs to use it.

Mrs. Wang was making clothes for Li Xiaohan. Li Xiaohan had grown taller and the clothes from previous years were no longer suitable. They were tattered and full of patches. Mrs. Wang now disliked them so much that she planned to make them for Li Xiaohan. Brand new.

Li Xiaohan was in the vegetable field in the backyard. Taking advantage of the good weather, he opened the straw and inspected the Panax notoginseng seedlings. These seedlings were well maintained and successfully survived this winter. In spring and March, they will be transplanted to the newly purchased forest land and allowed to grow freely.

The family was busy doing their own business when suddenly there was a knock on the front door.

"I'll open the door." Li Xiandong put down his things, thinking it was from some village.

Unexpectedly, the door opened. Li Xiandong straightened his back involuntarily and said in a tight voice, "Master Qing Gang."

"Master Li, I'm looking for Miss Li to discuss business."

=== Chapter === 65

Li Xiandong naturally knew what kind of business the Qinggang wanted to discuss. He was the one who sent Li Xiaohan to Fucheng yesterday.

Unexpectedly, the leader of the Qing Gang came to the door in person.

Li Xiandong was secretly proud and a little uncomfortable with it. He opened the door and prepared to let people in.

The leader of the Qing gang came here on horseback with another man. It was the middle-aged man with the goatee and accountant whom he had seen for the first time at Tongfu Restaurant.

Seeing this, Li Xiandong turned around and shouted into the yard, "My mother, go to the backyard and call Xiaohan back. There are guests coming."

Then he brought the two Qing gang leaders to the side and tied up the horses, and also got a handful of fodder for the horses. In this cold weather, don't starve the animals. It would be good to eat some fodder.

By the time Li Xiandong brought the two Qing gang leaders in, Li Xiaohan had already returned from the backyard. He was dressed in cotton-padded clothes. Since he had just gone to work in the backyard, he wore a half-used blouse. There was just a red ribbon tied casually in her hair, bringing with it the joy of the New Year.

Li Xiaohan's appearance really made Gang Leader Qing unable to imagine that she was the one who brewed the overbearing and stunning pepper wine.

Logically speaking, such wine should come from the hands of a skilled brewer from a century-old winery.

Unexpectedly, it would appear in the most unlikely hands of an ordinary farm girl.

While the leader of the Green Gang was sizing up Li Xiaohan, Li Xiaohan was also sizing up the leader of the Green Gang.

Since the last time we met, Gang Leader Qing's personal image has not changed much, except that he may have switched to business. For the sake of peace, he did not wear that handy outfit, but instead wore a blue satin. clothes.

This shows that the Qinggang is quite determined to transform. It's good to want to transform.

"Leader Ye, please come to visit us during the New Year. Please sit down." Li Xiaohan greeted.

The two men from the Qing Gang sat down on the chairs on the right, and Mrs. Wang quickly served them hot tea.

Gang Leader Qing took a sip of hot tea. He understood that he had indeed lost the upper hand by going to the door in person, but he was very optimistic about the pepper wine.

The entrance is overbearing and the food is warm. It is really suitable for drinkers like them in cold places.

Several shops in Qinggang have had a very good start due to the popularity brought by cotton combs. Especially several shops in other cities have greatly increased their popularity, and other goods have been sold. many.

However, after the cotton combing effect subsided, especially after the New Year, all the cotton that should be combed has been combed, and all the new clothes that should be worn have been worn, and Qinggang's business has become less competitive.

Especially in front of those mature business houses, they were beaten into a bit of disgrace.

This year, the leader of the Green Gang has received some cold treatment that he has never received before. Those merchants who had been nice to them in the past actually dared to look coldly on him, secretly saying that he had broken the rules.

No matter what the rules are, these businessmen are here to protect their own interests and squeeze out newcomers like him.

But this does bring him some trouble, so he needs this pepper wine to break the situation.

Thinking of this, Gang Leader Qing put down the bowl of tea in his hand and said, "Miss Li, what's the price of the two jars of pepper wine you sent over yesterday?"

"Zhuojiu costs 30 cents per tael, and Chunjiu costs 100 cents per tael. If we don't deliver, you can send someone to pick it up yourself." Li Xiaohan said crisply.

It doesn't matter if you don't deliver the goods. The Qinggang has many people to transport goods, but at this price, "Are you doubling it?"

He had tasted the wine before. It should have been made from wine from Lao Qiu's Tavern, and then processed twice. However, the spices and processing techniques were used, so he couldn't taste it. He only felt that it was exquisite.

"Does the Qing Gang Leader think this wine is too expensive? It turns out that the Qing Gang Leader has probably guessed that my wine is made by buying ready-made wine."

Li Xiaohan said slowly that he was not annoyed at all. Some things can be known by looking up, so there is no need to hide them. Besides, those who dislike the goods are the ones who really want to buy the goods. Those who want to lower the price are the ones who really want to buy the goods.

But what about the price? Selling wine involves high risks, a lot of trouble, and little profit, so it's not worth it.

Thinking of this, Li Xiaohan explained slowly, "But my wine is made with spices from the Western Regions. I won't say how expensive they are. The most important thing is that this is an exclusive secret recipe. Things are rare. Leader Qing Gang knows that it is expensive. So my price is not expensive at all."

The leader of the Green Gang is in a bit of a dilemma. He can do it at this price, but correspondingly, the price he sells has to be raised. The price is too high and it is difficult to sell.

But he had also experienced Li Xiaohan's bargaining skills, which was the style of talking to Gao Li.

Besides, Gang Leader Qing instinctively felt that Li Xiaohan might not really have much room to spare this time. Gang Leader Qing frowned even more tightly, "I want to take a look at the goods."

"Okay." Li Xiaohan said, stood up and walked to the east wing, where all the wine was put away.

A few people walked to the east wing together. The 40 jars of wine that were brewed in the room were sold to Patriarch Li and 2 jars were given to the Qinggang. Now there are only 37 jars left, and half of them are in one-pound bottles. .

Therefore, this family workshop does not have much inventory.

"Gang Leader Ye, you can pick any two jars and I'll show you the goods." Li Xiaohan said.

The leader of the Green Gang went around and picked out a jar of dirty wine and a jar of pure wine in an inconspicuous corner. He had drank from the small jar before, but now he wanted to try the big jar.

Li Xiaohan didn't hesitate, picked up a clean porcelain bowl next to him, and poured a bowl of turbid wine for Gang Leader Qing.

The leader of the Green Gang raised his head slightly and drank slowly.

That's the taste. Although it was not the first time he tasted it, Gang Leader Qing was still amazed. Such a domineering and ferocious wine would be unforgettable after one sip.

As expected, he rushed back from the neighboring city that afternoon after receiving the two jars of wine delivered by Ma Wu Kuai Ma.

Try another sip of mellow wine, the entrance is more rounded and the stamina is endless.

If the turbid wine just now makes people think of going out into the abyss with great passion when they have nothing, this mellow wine makes people feel that they have achieved a small amount of success and want to sit down and savor the taste of success.

This kind of wine is indeed worth double the price.

Seeing Gang Leader Qing's expression wavering, Li Xiaohan added another weight, "Gang Leader Ye, you've seen it too. I don't have much wine. If you ask for it at this price, I'll give it all to you this time. Exclusive business, let you Let's make a name for ourselves again."

Exclusive business, these four words instantly captured the heart of Gang Leader Qing, "Okay, but I also want to be exclusive in the future."

"Impossible, this thing costs a lot of money. From now on, it will be exclusively supplied. I just put my neck into your rope loop. It's up to you whether you want it or not. There's no discussion. Don't even think about it." Li Xiaohan refused without hesitation.

Leader Qing's brows furrowed even more. Li Xiaohan saw this and said, "In the worst case, I will supply the goods in the future, and you will have a share anyway. Don't worry."

"Okay, sign the paperwork."

Li Xiaohan half-smiled, "The last time we did the cotton comb business, Gang Leader Ye didn't say a word about paperwork."

Now that supply and demand are reversed, let's talk about documents.

"I won't sign the paperwork. There are a lot of spices here from the Western Regions. They are expensive and the supply is not stable. I can't sign them. I will supply them as much as they are available."

Have you never heard of a business story in later generations? An industry leader took a fancy to an emerging company and wanted to acquire it. However, the founder of the emerging company held the patent and the market was vast and did not want to sell it. The industry leader was not annoyed and expressed his disapproval. Emerging companies are very optimistic about it and have placed big orders, with big bosses supporting young people.

The emerging company was full of enthusiasm and accepted the big order. Unexpectedly, it encountered a sharp increase in raw materials and costs. The emerging company tried its best to support it, thinking that it would still make a profit by completing the big order. Unexpectedly, when the delivery was made, the big brother's company This time I asked for repair details and delayed the payment.

The cash flow of emerging companies is cut off, bankrupt and liquidated, acquired by big players, and patents and goods are acquired at the same time.

At that time, this case was mentioned several times by boss Li Xiaohan. It was too cunning to call the shopping mall like a battlefield. The bosses only dare to shrink and farm the land honestly.

Therefore, before the peppers were grown, before he had control over the supply of raw materials, and before his ability to resist risks reached a certain level, Li Xiaohan would not sign the document. Sell as much as you can, just to be on the safe side, you'll be safe.

Gang Leader Qing was rejected twice in a row, and his brows furrowed even more. Li Xiaohan thought for a moment after seeing this. After all, he was the only father of Party A, so he had to appease him, "Have Gang Leader Ye figured out how to promote this wine?" ?"

The leader of the Green Gang looked over in confusion. This wine is so good, why should it be promoted?

"No, no, no, you should know that the aroma of wine is also afraid of the deep alley. It still takes a lot of effort for this wine to be accepted and recognized by others. Look, didn't I give you two jars of wine to facilitate this transaction? ."

"I'd like to hear the details." Leader Qing knew that this was the time to come up with the familiar bonus.

"I see that there are still some cotton combs in your shop that have not been sold. After the fresh momentum, you are still not my cotton comb from Dianthus in Pingshan Village, so it is difficult to sell. And this thing, after the New Year, Everyone's cotton is almost combed, and if you pile it up there, it will only take up space and you won't gain popularity or money, so why not take this opportunity to clear it all out."

"On the busiest time of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, you send someone to shout at the door that cotton combs are on sale for a penny a pair. I guarantee that frugal women will flock to buy more combs for their families. Reserve. This kind of woman usually comes here with the men in the family. At this time, you pour the turbid wine into a small wine glass and invite people to drink for free. As long as someone drinks, you are not afraid of this No one knows the wine anymore."

"Don't feel sorry for inviting people to drink for free. The wool comes from the sheep. These people who drink are all your guests. You will always earn back the money from them."

The leader of the Green Gang glanced sideways at Li Xiaohan, as if to say, this is how I earned back the two small jars of wine you gave me.

Li Xiaohan was not embarrassed at all, and said very calmly, "Gang Leader Ye, this is business, we have a win-win relationship. Don't you think so? Why did I come to you before the Lantern Festival? I was here for you before I came to you. Think about it, you won't lose money. How much worry you save."

The leader of Qing Gang thought for a moment and realized that it was true, so the business was done.

"I want all the wine here at the price just mentioned." Gang Leader Qing said.

"Leave me a small jar of turbid wine and a small jar of pure wine. I can use them." Li Xiaohan said.

The leader of the Green Gang looked over with disapproval, as if to say: You won't give it away to others for nothing and then earn it back from others. We agreed to supply it exclusively to me for the time being.

"No, I keep it as a favor, not a transaction." Li Xiaohan explained, "Don't worry, Gang Leader Ye, I still have this bit of credibility."

So the leader of the Green Gang reluctantly felt relieved and the business was completed.

At this time, the middle-aged man with a goatee brought over by the leader of the Green Gang finally played his role. The man who looked like Mr. Accountant was the accountant. After calculation by both parties, there were ten jars of ten-jin bottles of pure wine and turbid wine. There were also seven jars of mellow wine and eight jars of turbid wine in that one pound. The Qing Gang had to pay a total of one hundred and ninety taels, and everyone wiped out the last part with a tacit understanding.

When the money arrives, the Qinggang will come over to transport the wine and settle the bill together, handing over the money and delivering the goods.

Li Xiaohan thought for a while, "When your people come to transport the goods, help me go to the Laoqiu Tavern. I can order ten jars of the mellow wine and the turbid wine in one-jin packages and ten-jin packages, please." Laoqiu Tavern brought it over for me. Just deduct the money for the drink. I don't care. If you mind, just cover up the news first so it doesn't affect you."

Since the Qinggang people guessed that she bought it from Laoqiu Tavern, there was no need to hide it. Let them tell them by the way to save her from making another trip to Fucheng. After all, it's still winter, and it's cold to ride in an oxcart.

Gang leader Qing's expression was suffocating. He made half of the profit. This move was ninety-five taels. Li Xiaohan didn't hide it from them.

This is nearly one hundred taels.

"Gang Leader Ye, I still have money for ingredients. You don't know how expensive the spices in the Western Regions are. There are also labor costs. I just earn hard money. Don't keep calculating costs and not spending money on me." Your thoughts and time will be taken into account." Li Xiaohan reassured.

No, the cost of the spices is not that expensive. It's labor-intensive. It's much easier than that. In fact, the most profitable thing is the secret recipe.

Sure enough, knowledge is wealth.

However, Gang Leader Qing finally looked much better after hearing this.

After negotiating the deal, the leader of the Qing Gang rode back to Fucheng. About two hours later, the ox cart came over and brought Li Xiaohan the mellow and turbid wine from Lao Qiu's tavern, and then brought Li Xiaohan Li Xiaohan's entire inventory of pepper wine was taken away.

With just such a conversion, ninety-five taels of silver were pocketed. Excluding the spice fee, which was about ten taels, the rest was a net profit.

Wang and Li Xiandong touched the white money and couldn't believe it. It was really easy for them to earn this money. In the past, I had to guard the field every day, enduring the scorching sun in summer and the cold wind in winter. I had to wait on it for a whole year, but only a few taels were left. Now that I can stay at home and not be exposed to the wind and rain, I can make so much money.

"If you have a craft, you can make money quickly." Li Xiandong sighed, and Wang nodded frequently.

Li Xiaohan didn't feel this way, because this wine originally followed a route that ordinary people would not easily consume. It is normal to make a profit. For those products in the previous life, the cost and price increased several times. It's a lot of money. This is true of her, and it's the reason why she doesn't dare to be too high-profile.

"Father, mother, please keep this money." Li Xiaohan said. In an instant, Qinggang emptied her inventory, and she had to cut peppers to save seeds, prepare ingredients for brewing wine, and filter the wine liquid.

"You keep it, you have to buy more and sell it again, keep some living money in hand, we still have it here." Wang and Li Xiandong said together. Although they were shocked, they It was finally clear that the business of pepper wine could continue.

"Let's do it. The money for the pepper wine will be put here with me, and the money for the spices will also come from here. It's easy to calculate." Li Xiaohan said. The money is earmarked for your own use, so it will be easy to deal with in the future.

That is, where to put all this money?

Li Xiaohan originally wanted to put the suitcase away, but Wang was shocked when he heard this. He quickly called Li Xiandong in, dug a hole in Li Xiaohan's room, and buried the money in it.

Li Xiaohan: Next time I will ask the Qinggang to send me a banknote.

After burying the money, it was time to start work. We had to quickly brew the new batch of wine.

"Mom, my clothes are not in a hurry. Please help me cut these peppers and save the seeds. I have to soak this batch of new wine as soon as possible."

"become."

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, Li Xiandong's family did not go to Fucheng to join in the fun like some other families in the village, while those with goods set up a stall. Business was good today.

After all, Mrs. Wang was pregnant and it was not suitable to be squeezed. Mrs. Wang asked Li Xiandong to take Li Xiaohan to follow the villagers, but Li Xiaohan was unwilling.

Their family has no place to stay in Fucheng. They have to rush back before dark, so what's the point? The ancient night market was beautiful with its dancing trees, trees, silver flowers, fish and dragons. Going shopping in broad daylight, had she never visited Fucheng during the day? I guess it would be more lively than in the previous life.

It's not worth it, it's not worth it, to sit in an ox cart that is not protected from the wind and go back and forth twice in this cold winter.

So, during the Lantern Festival, Li Xiandong's family celebrated the festival in the village, walked among the tribesmen, and dealt with those ignorant talkative people who secretly inquired about the price of their pepper wine. The family had a good time. It was a delicious, warm and peaceful way to spend the Lantern Festival.

"I just don't know how the Qing Gang's wine is selling?"

How is the Qinggang's wine sales?

At dusk, the sky is dark, and lanterns are lit up all over the city. After the Lantern Festival, the year is over, and we have to enter the busy work again. This is the last carnival.

And because the cotton tax has been reduced or exempted this year, everyone has saved a fortune and has some money on hand, so it will be even more lively.

On Xishi Main Street, the Qing Gang shop also lit up two large lanterns. Time was tight and the wine was unlucky, so the Qing Gang simply put them all in this shop in Fucheng. Just those few dozen kilograms of wine were thrown into the city, and they were digested without even being able to hear a burp.

"Come and take a look, come and take a look. Cotton combs are on sale. In the past, they were eight cents per pair, but today they are one cent per pair. Once sold out, they will be gone." Ma Wu shouted at the door shouted.

"Cotton combs cost eight cents per pair in the past, but cost one cent per pair today. Don't miss them when you pass by." Ma Wu learned this from farmers in Pingshan Village and processed it himself.

Among the crowd, there was the middle-aged aunt, who was holding her two children with her husband. She even suspected that she heard it wrong the first time, but she still stopped. The second time, she was right.

Pulling her husband and child up into the air, she took three steps and two steps at a time, walked to Qingbang's shop, and asked loudly, "A pair of cotton combs are made by Dianthus from Pingshan Village?"

"Most of them are not, but some are. It's up to you to choose. Anyway, they're all for one penny." Ma Wu said simply.

As soon as she said this, the aunt quickly pushed the two children into her husband's arms and said, "Take care of me, Mr. Erlang, and I will come back to you after I pick out a pair of cotton combs."

After saying that, without waiting for her husband's response, she rushed to Qinggang's cotton comb table.

Today, she, Mrs. Chen, must clear away the shame of being accused of taking advantage of the cheap cotton comb she bought. Today, a pair of cotton combs cost a penny, so she bought eight pairs and divided them all among her parents-in-law's family to see who wouldn't say she was both discerning and knowledgeable about housekeeping.

As quickly as Mrs. Chen plunged into the cotton combing table, there were also ladies of all ages surrounding her in a circle.

One penny for a pair, it's almost like there is no money. Grab it quickly. If you grab it, you will earn it.

Only Mrs. Chen and her husband were left, with two children crammed in, and squeezed left and right by the surging ladies.

"Those with children come this way. Stop crowding the children. Come this way." Ma Wu shouted from the side.

Mrs. Chen's husband took their two children and walked aside with difficulty. Like him, there were many abandoned men.

"Gentlemen, do you want to try our new wine? The spices from the Western Regions are rare and valuable. Today is the Lantern Festival, so you can try a small cup for free."

The eyes of this group of men lit up.

Ma Wu added another sentence, "Don't worry, it's just a small cup. You won't get drunk or lose the child."

The last trace of concern was put aside, "Give me a drink." "Give me a drink."

A plate of small wine glasses was distributed in one fell swoop.

Wow, what kind of wine is this!

The men who originally just wanted to give it a try, their eyes suddenly brightened, "Give me another cup, this small cup, I don't even taste it."

A smile appeared on Ma Wu's lips, "I'm sorry, this wine is expensive, so each person can only taste one cup. If you are interested, come in and have a look at our shop. This wine from the Western Regions is definitely the only one in Fucheng. If you miss it, you won't get it. We also have specialties from all over the north and south, everyone can take a look."

"Where is it? Where is it?" someone in the crowd who didn't have children asked anxiously.

"It's in the northwest corner, be careful not to crowd in."

So the men rushed to the northwest corner one after another.

"How much? How to sell it?"

"Zhuojiu costs 45 cents per liang, and Chunjiu costs 150 cents per tael. They are both packed into a jar by a catty."

Change the jar, change the term, and the Qinggang will double again.

"Bring me a jar of turbid wine."

"Bring me a jar of wine."

"Don't squeeze, don't squeeze, I want one jar each."

…

"Why are there so many people crowded in front of the Qinggang shop in front?"

"I heard there's a big sale on cotton combs. They cost a penny a pair. You can choose any of them."

"No, what are those guys doing there? Grabbing cotton combs?"

"Oh, what are you talking about? I heard that Qinggang bought a batch of sweet pepper wine from the Western Regions and offered a free trial. The taste is amazing. It's the kind of wine a real man would drink. After trying it, I wanted to buy it."

"Really, so good."

"I will definitely never forget it. It's just a bit expensive, so I was only willing to buy some turbid wine."

"Then I'll try it too. If you don't buy it, you can have a drink for free."

"Little brother, give me a drink. Hey, it's so little. My throat is so wet. Ah! Where can I get this wine? Give me a jar."

…

As the night gradually got up, Ma Wu quietly withdrew from the crowd, "Brother, we have sold almost one-third of our pepper wine, and the crowds are still coming in."

"So fast." Leader Qing said in surprise.

"Yes. This wine is indeed delicious." Ma Wu recalled.

"Sell ten more jars. Put away the rest and say they are out of stock." The leader of the Qing Gang immediately ordered.

What did Miss Li tell me at that time, sell it leisurely? After the wine is sold out, the next batch will take a month. If that doesn't work, just do a limited sale and sell a little every day.

Don't deceive me sincerely.

=== Chapter === 66

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the door of the Li family was knocked again.

Li Xiandong opened the door and saw that Gang Leader Qing was here again and hurriedly welcomed people in. Although he was also surprised this time, he was skilled and only called Li Xiaohan out.

Li Xiaohan collected the ingredients and peppers he was preparing and went out to meet the guests.

"I wonder if Gang Leader Qing is here today. What's the problem?" Li Xiaohan got straight to the point.

According to her speculation, the pepper wine produced during the Lantern Festival yesterday should be quite effective, and there was no worry or anger on the Green Gang Leader's face, so he probably didn't come back to her for after-sales service.

The leader of the Green Gang was straightforward and straightforward. He had already thought about it when he came. Since he had lost the initiative with Li Xiaohan, he might as well go lower and strive for more outside initiative.

"Miss Li, the sales of pepper wine were very good yesterday, but I saw that there was not enough to buy. I know that Miss Li, you are cautious by nature and do not want to spread the stall too big, so the Qinggang wants to cooperate with you. Cooperate. For the next batch of wine, we will send ten jars each of ten kilograms of fine wine and ten kilograms of dark wine. We will bear the cost of the wine first. How about we settle the settlement with Miss Li on the day of shipment? "

The leader of the Qing Gang said his request, which was also the result of his careful consideration. Seeing that the pepper wine was selling well, but was limited by the output, the leader of the Qing Gang felt uncomfortable, so he had to go to Li Xiaohan himself to test the business to see if he could expand the scale.

Oh, this means the sales are too good. Not only is it not enough this time, but it is also worried that it will not be enough next time. I simply want to help her increase production.

And after receiving the original wine from Qinggang, how could we not deliver it to Qinggang? Qinggang was afraid that she would sell it to someone else again and wanted to lock her down.

Li Xiaohan frowned and thought, she really wanted to take a safe route, but the number of Qing Gang Leaders just weighed on her ability to bear: the money she earned last time was exactly the cost of doubling this. That is to say, even if she loses everything, she can still bear it. At worst, all the money she earned last time will be turned into wine.

"Originally, I wanted to be on the safe side, but since the leader of the Green Gang is so sincere, I will take it this time. But it won't be the same next time." Li Xiaohan said.

As Li Xiaohan finished speaking, the surrounding atmosphere relaxed. Somehow, even though there were only a few people in the room, and Li Xiaohan was clearly the youngest, everyone knew that Li Xiaohan had the final say on this matter.

"However," Li Xiaohan hesitated, "I also have something I would like to ask Gang Leader Ye for help with."

"Miss Li, please tell me."

"I know, Gang Leader Ye, that you are traveling all over the country. I would like to ask Gang Leader Ye to help me collect some scientific examination materials, especially those from Jiangnan and the capital, past question collections and other information for examinations of scholars and candidates."

Regarding Li Xinhe's issue, Li Xiaohan thought for a long time. Poor educational resources are not only poor in teachers, but also poor in information.

For example, developed areas can collect more test question information and more examiner question information, so that they can check for gaps and study on demand, while underdeveloped areas can only read through one text and have to figure out the rest by themselves.

This is the information gap.

Li Xiaohan thought about it for a while. Although the Li family is known as the scholarly inheritance, no one has passed the scholar examination for many years. The update of knowledge in this area has long been out of date. Although Li Xinhe had a husband earlier, what he could leave to him might be more trouble than help.

The information that Li Xinhe can collect is probably only the information near Fucheng. But on their side, the writing style was not strong, and the martial spirit was even stronger. Therefore, Li Xinhe not only lacked a famous teacher, he also lacked relevant reference materials.

I guess that when Li Xinhe went to take the exam, he was just familiar with the textbooks and followed the candidates who had 30 papers + 10 mock exams in previous years. Losing is normal, winning depends on extraordinary talent.

That's why Li Xiaohan asked the Qinggang to collect information, because in the Qinggang's shop, the sources of goods come from both the south and the north, so they can try to make up for this information gap.

"Since Miss Li needs it, I will instruct the people below to do their best to collect it for Miss Li." The leader of the Qing Gang breathed a sigh of relief and asked. Now he also realizes that the best cooperative relationship is to have back-and-forth. Relationship.

"Then thank Gang Leader Ye first. Please send someone to pick up this batch of pepper wine at this time next month. As for the cost of collecting information, we will settle the bill together then."

Because I don't know what I can collect, I can't estimate the price. If I want to give an estimate in advance, Li Xiaohan can't give much, and I guess the Qinggang won't accept it, so it's better to just leave it like this and wait until then. Settlement.

"It's easy to talk about the money. We can settle it together when the time comes. That's it. I'll send someone to deliver the original wine."

After the two parties were confirmed, the leader of the Qing Gang said goodbye and left.

"Xiaohan, why did you buy these scientific examination materials?" Li Xiandong asked hesitantly. He gave birth to a daughter. No matter how strong she was, she couldn't take the imperial examination.

"It's for Brother Xinhe. Dad, didn't you say that Brother Xinhe is smart and hard-working, but just a little bit lucky." Li Xiaohan replied.

"Oh, that's good, that's good." Li Xiandong showed a smile.

The leader of the Qing Gang moved very quickly. Twenty jars of wine were shipped after two hours. As a result, the work Li Xiaohan had to do doubled. In order to ship goods to the Qing Gang as soon as possible, not only the Wang family, but also Li Xiandong came over to help cut the peppers and prepare the ingredients.

As for what I had thought before, the local version of hot pot base Malatang, which has been tested by many children of the Li family, can only be put on hold for the time being. It's all about making money, so let's promote the thing in front of us first.

On January 29th, it rains, and spring is coming.

Li Xiaohan raised his head and looked at the thin mist of rain in the sky. He thought that in February, after the hibernation and before the vernal equinox, it would be almost the time to breed Eucommia eucommia seedlings and pepper seedlings. The next spring would be very special. You are so busy, plan your time in advance to avoid being in a hurry.

"It's raining well. It moistens everything. The first farming season of the new year is so auspicious. This year must be a good year." Li Xiandong sighed.

"Dad, let's go to Fucheng in two days. Before spring comes, I have to prepare some ingredients and see how the Qing Gang is doing in Fucheng."

"Okay, when the rain stops, I will take you there."

On the second day of February, the dragon raised its head. It had rained all day a few days ago, so the ground was dry today. However, as the rain fell and the snow melted, it was still difficult to travel, and as spring came, the clan leader's ox cart was ready for spring plowing, so he couldn't borrow it.

In Renhetang, it is still Master Xiaoshi who entertains Li Xiaohan and his daughter today.

"Why has the price of these peppers increased?" Although Li Xiaohan had a premonition, it had only been a month and the second batch of pepper wine had not been brewed yet. Only the dozens of jars of the first batch of wine had been brewed. , caused such a big market response?

Master Xiaoshi was about to answer, but unexpectedly shopkeeper Luo was here today and came over and explained, "It's all because Fucheng Qinggang imported a batch of pepper wine from somewhere. Nowadays, this wine is hard to find in Fucheng. Every Qinggang Only twenty jars are sold every day, ten jars each of pure wine and turbid wine, but this will not cause the price of this little pepper to rise now."

Shopkeeper Luo's expression is very intriguing. Others don't know it, but he knows it. On the day of Xiaohan two years ago, suddenly the employer sent someone over and quickly picked up Dr. Zhang. Later, he found out that Mrs. Zhang was trapped in a village called Pingshan Village outside Fucheng due to wind and snow, and urgently called Dr. Zhang over for treatment.

He has been to Pingshan Village, and he is familiar with this village. At that time, he had some thoughts.

Later, Qingbang's pepper wine became popular in Fucheng, and he wondered at that time, "Why is the name of this pepper wine so similar to pepper wine? Could it be related to it?"

At that time, Doctor Zhang said casually, "It's related, this pepper wine is brewed with pepper as the main ingredient."

This shocked Shopkeeper Luo. He always had better information than Dr. Zhang. Dr. Zhang knew everything, but he didn't know yet. How could this work? So shopkeeper Luo worked hard and learned from Dr. Zhang that this pepper wine was probably brewed by Li Xiaohan.

Shopkeeper Luo was shocked. This is really a person who cannot be judged by appearance. After a closer look, Miss Li is also a peasant girl who is not very outstanding, but she is just a little smarter than the average peasant girl. Looking at It looks a little better. Hey, Miss Li has changed a lot compared to last year, but that's not important. The important thing is, how did Miss Li brew the pepper wine?

Li Xiaohan looked at Shopkeeper Luo's appraising eyes, and knew in his heart that Shopkeeper Luo might have guessed his identity, and he did not deny it, "Since Shopkeeper Luo has guessed it, I have to behave well today. Shopkeeper Luo please You drink, I hope you like it, Shopkeeper Luo."

After speaking, Li Xiaohan handed shopkeeper Luo a small wine jar. This was one of the first two jars of mellow wine left over from the Qing Gang. Originally, Li Xiaohan wanted to keep only one jar of turbid wine and one jar of mellow wine. Yes, after thinking about it later, I changed it to two jars of fine wine. After all, if you give a gift to take away a favor, it is not good to give anyone dirty wine. The leader of the Qing Gang was quite happy. As long as he was not doing business for other people, leaving a jar of dirty wine or a jar of pure wine had little impact on him.

Shopkeeper Luo took the wine jar and smelled it carefully. It was indeed the smell of pepper. However, after smelling it, he recommended it back, "Miss Li, I'm sorry I can't help you. This pepper was originally shipped by Hu Shang. As a kind of medicinal material, not many people grow it, so now they are raising the price one after another, and I am also raising the price here."

Li Xiaohan smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Luo misunderstood me. Of course I understand Shopkeeper Luo's dilemma. The price of peppers has increased. How should we buy and sell?"

"But, I gave Shopkeeper Luo some wine, do you really want something?"

"Oh, what do you want?" Shopkeeper Luo raised his eyebrows.

"There is an elder brother in my clan who has been studying for many years. He is nineteen years old and has already given birth to a boy. Naturally, he wants to go further. But he is suffering from the lack of a famous teacher, so he would like to ask Shopkeeper Luo about the situation of the school in this city. After all, Luo Shopkeeper, you are from the city and a big shopkeeper of Renhetang. You are well-informed and well-connected. Of course, we don't dare to ask for more. We just hope that shopkeeper Luo can give us some guidance. If we want to study, we can go to Fucheng School. Which ones are more suitable for us?" Li Xiaohan asked sincerely.

=== Chapter === 67

Oh, I'm not asking for a price reduction, that's easy to say.

Shopkeeper Luo is also very curious about pepper wine, and since there is no business now, there is nothing to talk about.

So shopkeeper Luo invited Li Xiaohan and Li Xiaohan to an inconspicuous corner.

"As for the schools in the city, the best one is of course Qingshan Academy. It is the best academy near Dingcheng, and all the teachers are above the imperial examination."

Shopkeeper Luo sighed and said, "However, non-scholars are not allowed to enter Qingshan Academy. Of course, if you are extremely wealthy, that is a different matter. However, ordinary people like us should not think about it."

Listening to shopkeeper Luo's tone, it seemed like a past event, Li Xiaohan quickly sighed in agreement, "No, we have to look at our family background. Our ancestors are not extremely wealthy, so we will move forward step by step, always. One day I can go to Qingshan Academy."

Sure enough, Li Xiaohan's pragmatic attitude was greatly endorsed by Shopkeeper Luo, who continued enthusiastically, "In addition to Qingshan Academy, there are four major schools in Fucheng, all of which are dedicated to running schools, and they are divided into The Zhao Family Academy in the east of the city, the Qian Family Academy in the south of the city, the Sun Family Academy in the west of the city, and the Li Family Academy in the north of the city may be the same family as you eight hundred years ago."

"I dare not mention this. After all, we have been farming for many years and there is no missing genealogy." Li Xiaohan quickly denied it.

Looking at what he said, he seemed very competent. "I dare not mention this" shows that he has no intention of building a relationship. "The genealogy has not been missing" shows that his family is also a family with inheritance. Although it is now in decline, Gengdu Biography Home has never been lost.

Is this really a clever idea that a farm girl can develop?

Shopkeeper Luo looked at Li Xiaohan suspiciously, and became even more confused upon closer inspection. Compared with when he first saw him, he was obviously taller by more than half a head, and his whole body was spread out. His cheeks were full, his lips were rosy, and he was much I haven't been exposed to the sun in winter, and even my skin has turned white. In addition to wearing the cotton clothes common in farmers, she is a little more plain, and she is prettier than many young ladies in the city.

This intelligence and magnanimity are even more rare. Shopkeeper Luo asks himself that he has seen countless people, but he has never seen a few.

Such a person might be able to leap over the dragon's gate or transform into a dragon or a phoenix when given an opportunity. Now, it's rare that she is still at the bottom. She can extend a hand to relieve herself and form a good relationship. In the future, she still doesn't know who to rely on. Woolen cloth.

Thinking like this, Shopkeeper Luo went into more detail, "You said that your clan brother is nineteen years old and has already won the childbirth. It is rare for a young man to be promising. Where did I read it in the past? I have read a book, and have you paid homage to any gentleman?"

"I started studying in our ethnic studies since I was a child, and then studied with a Mr. Han Ji in Fucheng for two years. Later, after Mr. Han passed away, I have been delayed to this day. I am still in the ethnic studies today. Half teaching, half reading."

There is also ethnic studies, and he can actually half teach and half read. Shopkeeper Luo respects him even more, "I have also heard about Mr. Han. He is a very talented person. Your ethnic brother only studied with him. Two years, and the rest of the time studying in the family, you can be a middle-aged boy at a young age, and I think you are not bad at talent."

"In this case, I personally suggest that you don't make do with other gentlemen, it's best to enter these four universities." At that time, as Mr. Han's talent became famous, there was also Mr. Han's eccentricity. "It's just that the county examination is coming soon, and none of the four major halls have any plans to accept new apprentices. If you pay close attention, after this child examination, once there are vacancies in the four major halls, you will immediately Sign up. With your clan brother's qualifications, it's very possible."

Sure enough, it was right to come to Shopkeeper Luo. Shopkeeper Luo, who has some assets in his family and is well-informed, knows best about this school. Maybe Shopkeeper Luo's relatives have students studying there. This is just like asking your mother about the school district room in future generations. It can explain everything to you clearly.

However, shopkeeper Luo gave such sincere and practical advice, which really surprised Li Xiaohan, who originally thought it was just ordinary news. Now this is definitely not a friendship that a jar of pepper wine can repay.

"The words of shopkeeper Deluo have simply lifted the fog in front of us. We will always remember this kindness. If there is any place where shopkeeper Luo can use us, we will be outstanding." We will not hesitate to speak."

"Needless to say, I'm just forming a good relationship." Shopkeeper Luo didn't hide himself.

"It's people like Shopkeeper Luo who can really help us." Li Xiaohan said with a sigh, but he was a little embarrassed, "It's just that we have one more thing to trouble Shopkeeper Luo, the news about the school in the city. We don't have many connections, and we're not stationed in the city. Although we keep an eye out, we might still miss it. We also need to trouble Shopkeeper Luo to let us know if there is any news. Let's go to Qinggang's shop next door and ask them to help us. Just send the message."

"Sure. Send the Buddha to the west. I won't waste your good wine. I'll let you know if there's any news." Shopkeeper Luo said with a smile.

"Then thank you in advance, Shopkeeper Luo. If you want to drink well, tell me and I will never miss out on your share."

"I take Miss Li's words seriously."

"It couldn't be truer."

The two decided on these two things while laughing and chatting.

Li Xiaohan returned to the counter and continued to buy his own peppers and various ingredients at high prices.

It really hurts. I would have bought more if I had known it. Now the pepper is nearly 20% more expensive, and my profit has been reduced.

But now, no matter how expensive peppers are, you have to bite the bullet and buy more, otherwise the price will rise even more in the future.

Before you grow your own peppers, you are still at the mercy of the market.

Should we give Qingbang a price increase?

Forget it, it's not appropriate to raise prices now, and we won't lower prices when peppers are grown in the future. It's just that stable.

Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong paid the money and left with heartbroken faces.

After the two of them left Renhe Hall, Master Xiao Shi quietly walked over to inquire and said, "Shopkeeper, is that pepper wine really brewed by Miss Li?"

Shopkeeper Luo raised his eyebrows and looked at Master Xiaoshi without saying anything. He just found a place to put his pepper wine. This wine is rare nowadays, so I have to show it off to my old friends.

When Master Xiaoshi saw the shopkeeper's attitude, he felt even more certain, but he said, "Shopkeeper, when Miss Li bought so many spices and medicinal materials from us, did she just soak them in the pepper wine? Isn't this..."

The unfinished meaning in his words seemed to be that he wanted to explore this secret recipe.

"Don't think about it. Do you know how many flavors she used or not? Do you know what kind of techniques she used? How much heat? A slight difference can make a difference." Shopkeeper Luo scolded He said, "You can't even learn how to prepare medicinal materials. What are you still thinking about?"

"Shopkeeper, that's what I said." Shopkeeper Xiaoshi said pitifully.

"You can still do it. Think about your own brain. Hurry and identify the medicinal materials."

"Yes, I understand. Shopkeeper."

Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong walked out of the gate of Renhe Hall and walked to the Qinggang shop. If shopkeeper Luo really had news, he had to tell the people of the Qinggang to bring the news to them as soon as possible.

Passing by Tongfu Restaurant on the way, Li Xiaohan narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. Panjiao wine is now so famous, so it would be inappropriate to delay the 30% of the money given to Mrs. Zhang, lest it cause misunderstanding. His attitude was very important.

It's just that according to the earlier plan, the thirty percent or tens of taels of silver were too small, and Mrs. Zhang might not like it and wanted to send it quarterly. Therefore, I don't have much money with me today. Now that the price of peppers has increased again, I have to spend a lot of money. It's better to wait until the next time I come to bring the money with me.

While thinking about it, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong drove the bullock cart to the front of the Qingbang store.

I saw Na Ma Wu standing in front of the door and shouting, "Today the pepper wine is sold out, no more, no more, come back tomorrow morning."

The dozen or so people in front let out disappointed boos, and one bold man yelled dissatisfied, "Ma Wu, what's the use of these twenty jars of wine you release every day? How many people are there?" Hurry up and restock, I can't even spend the money I wasted on, so you're not making any money, are you stupid?"

Ma Wu was not annoyed, he just smiled and said, "Why can't I spend my free money? Look at my shop, nothing is bad, this lacquerware, this fur, this saddle..."

"Don't say this, I bought it a long time ago. I want to buy that pepper wine now."

"The pepper wine is really gone. There is so little of this stuff. Come back tomorrow, come back tomorrow."

There was another loud boo from the crowd, but they couldn't help but come back tomorrow morning.

After the crowd dispersed, Li Xiaohan stepped forward to say hello, "Brother Ma Wu, good morning. Business seems to be very good today."

Ma Wu's eyes brightened, and then he turned around and looked around. Seeing that there was no other outsider, Fang smiled and hurried up to greet him, "It's thanks to Miss Li, it's thanks to Miss Li. What's Miss Li doing here today? Could it be... another shipment?" Already?"

When it came to the end, Ma Wu's eyes were shining. He also wanted to make money, but he could only watch the money slipping away as he watched people waving money to buy goods, but he had no goods to sell. It feels so uncomfortable .

However, Li Xiaohan interrupted Ma Wu's fantasy with a smile, "There is no goods, so it's not possible. I came to you today because I have other things to do."

A look of disappointment quickly appeared on Ma Wu's face, but it quickly turned into a smile. Forget it, sooner or later the money will belong to the Qinggang, that's all. At present, the most important thing is to satisfy Miss Li, so that there will be a steady supply of exclusive goods.

"I wonder what happened to Miss Li? Our gang leader is not here. Do you want to ask him to come over? Miss Li can just wait for half an hour."

As Ma Wu spoke, he winked at a teenage snot baby next to him. The snot baby was also very smart. He stood up and ran away with his legs squeaking.

"No, I'm looking for you, Brother Ma Wu." Li Xiaohan couldn't stop him, so he could only say with a smile, "That's it..."

He explained the cause of the matter again, "So, I have to trouble you, Brother Ma Wu. Once shopkeeper Luo sends someone over, Brother Ma Wu, you must send the news to my house as soon as possible."

Li Xiaohan looked for other people to inquire about the school instead of the Qinggang. Ma Wu was not annoyed at all and asked the Qinggang to ask the teacher of the school. If you don't help, you will become enemies.

Now that Miss Li has asked the shopkeeper of Renhetang, she only needs to send a message herself. Ma Wu patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, Miss Li, your clan brother is my Qinggang clan brother. I will get the news when the time comes." , I will definitely send someone to deliver the news immediately, without delaying your affairs."

While the two were talking, they saw the snotty kid who had just escaped running back with his legs like hot wheels, "Fifth brother, Miss Li, the gang leader won't be able to leave for a while, and he said if Miss Li is busy, please wait for him. There are also these books for Miss Li, who just came from the capital."

Oh, did you collect it so quickly?

Li Xiaohan took the bundle of books in surprise. It was still wrapped in oil paper. He weighed it and found that it was very heavy. Then he untied the rope and peeled off the oil paper. He saw that it was indeed the book he had entrusted to the Qing Gang. The collected books have "Jingcheng Yuan Examination Collection" written on them, and there is also a line below, "Twenty-two years of Taihe". The next one has the small print "Twenty-One Years of Taihe".

"That's great. Tell me thank you, gang leader." Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "I didn't expect that I would gain this much by coming here today."

"It's good if you like Miss Li. There are a group of brothers who just returned from the capital yesterday. They may have brought them back yesterday. Otherwise, they would have been given to Miss Li long ago."

"Yes. So I saw that the weather was very good today, so it was right to go out." Li Xiaohan said, just at this time the customer came in and called the store.

"Brother Ma Wu, let's go do some business first. I've already finished my work when I came here today. There are a lot of spring plowing matters, so I won't wait for Gang Leader Ye and go back first. Say hello to your gang leader for me."

"Sure." Ma Wu said cheerfully.

Li Xiaohan put the book into the basket behind Li Xiandong. Today's trip to the city was over, and the two of them went home.

After walking on these legs for about an hour, Li Xiaohan felt that buying a cow should be the highest priority for his family.

"You're tired. We'll be there in a while."

"I'm okay, dad, let's go directly to the patriarch's house."

The patriarch's family are all here. The weather is good today and the sky is bright. Patriarch Li is writing calculations in front of the main room, while Li Xinhe is helping to check. This place is large and bright, and is more suitable than a study.

"Xiandong and Xiaohan are here. Let's sit down for a while. I'll finish the calculation first." Chief Li said without raising his head.

During the first county exam in early February, several boys in the clan wanted to go out and practice. Chief Li had to get these things done.

"Well, clan leader, you go ahead and do your work first." Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan responded.

The clan leader had no time to spare, so Li Xinhe came to the side and moved the charcoal basin towards Li Xiaohan. It's late winter and early spring, and it's very cold while walking.

"Uncle Xiandong and sister Xiaohan just came back from Fucheng?" Li Xinhe asked.

"Brother Xinhe, are you okay?" Li Xiaohan didn't answer and just asked.

"Well, I have nothing to do, as long as my father is there. Does sister Xiaohan have anything to do with me?"

"Well, I have something for Xin and Brother you." Li Xiaohan smiled and said, "Dad, take out the things."

Li Xiandong smiled naively, took out the bunch of oil-paper-wrapped books from the bottom of his backpack and handed them to Li Xinhe.

"For me? What is it?" Li Xinhe asked. It looks like books and paper.

Li Xiaohan didn't answer, but encouraged, "Brother Xinhe, please open it and take a look."

Li Xinhe opened the oil paper in confusion and took a deep breath.

"Jingcheng Yuan Trial Collection!"

"It's still the twenty-two and twenty-one-year volumes of Taihe!"

"The "Collected Records of the Inter-Academic Examinations" are the annotations of Lord Yang. Lord Yang is a major at the Hanlin Academy."

Even Li Xinhe, who has always been gentle and steady, couldn't help but look through it anxiously at this moment and exclaimed in a low voice.

"What! Let me take a look!" Patriarch Li, who was saying that he wanted to write some calculations, rushed over with a speed that was very inconsistent with his age and snatched the book from Li Xinhe's hand.

"Dad, be careful, don't damage it." Li Xinhe shouted urgently.

"I still need you to tell me." Patriarch Li fumbled with the cover of the book carefully and opened it carefully.

Li Xinhe hurriedly came over, and the two father and son read through it together, entranced and silent.

For a moment, no one paid any attention to Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong. Li Xiandong was not annoyed and just put the herbs and spices in the basket back. Li Xiaohan approached the brazier and warmed his hands.

"Xiaohan, Xiandong, come here, have a bowl of sugar water to warm yourself up." Mrs. Tan, the patriarch's daughter-in-law, served a large bowl of steaming sugar water and greeted her with a very kind smile.

She likes whoever treats her son well. She just heard it. This was a book for the imperial examination. This was specially brought to her son.

What kind of camaraderie is this.

The old man was busy with clan affairs every day. There were a few people in the clan who were thinking about their family just like Xiandong.

It happened that Li Xiaohan was indeed cold, so he picked it up and said, "Thank you, Aunt Tan."

A mouthful of warm sugar water almost made Li Xiaohan sick. It's too sweet. Why didn't I know that Tan Bo Niang's sugar water was so sweet before?

"What's wrong? Is it not tasty enough? Do you want me to add some more sugar?"

"No, no, no, it's good. It's just a little hot. I'll take it a while and drink it again."

"Sister Xiaohan, Uncle Xiandong, let's have a snack." At this time, Li Xinhe's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ye, came up with a plate of red date cake. Judging from the style, it was still the packaging used to treat guests in Fucheng.

"Come, come, Xiaohan, eat, go to the city and get hungry."

"Auntie, I'll do it myself." Li Xiaohan said quickly.

Mrs. Tan's attitude seemed to be that she had refused, and she felt that all the kitchen cabinets at home would be dug out, so that she would have enough to eat and drink.

Seeing that Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong were no longer polite, Tan and Ye quietly retreated.

After enduring the overwhelmingly sweet feeling, they finally finished the bowl of sugar water. Patriarch Li and his son were still flipping through the book.

Li Xiaohan signaled his father to stand up, and said to the two patriarchs, "Clan leader, brother Xin and brother, please take your time, my father and I are going back first."

The patriarch and Li Xinhe pulled out their minds from the book and said harshly, "Xiaohan, where did you get this book? Isn't it expensive?"

This book is new and complete, obviously hard-earned. There may be schools in Fucheng, but they will never flow out easily.

"It was brought back from the capital by the Tuoqing Gang. It's not expensive, but it just brings trouble. Patriarch, don't care about this, just treat it as a gift from us to Brother Xin and Brother."

"No, we'll give you how much it costs." Li Xinhe said seriously.

In fact, everyone knows that money is a trivial matter, and the most important thing is the favor collected and brought back from the capital.

"That's right. I asked the Qing Gang to collect the volumes from Jiangnan before, but I haven't returned yet. When I get back, I'll ask Xin and Brother to come over to my house and settle the settlement with the Qing Gang. ." Li Xiaohan said after pondering for a while.

There are also volumes from Jiangnan. Li Xinhe opened his eyes slightly. Jiangnan was a place where literary style flourished.

"Xiandong, Xiaohan, please don't leak out the news that you have this information. With this volume, the children of our clan will have a few more chances than others in this year's exam." Chief Li swallowed. My throat felt tense.

"Okay, Patriarch, we know it. No one will tell me." Internal information is not allowed to be borrowed. This is due to the information gap between himself and others. Li Xiaohan understands, "Chief, Brother Xinhe, you continue. Let's study it, I'll go back first."

"Yeah. Be careful on the road."

For a moment, not knowing what to say, Li Xinhe uttered a random sentence: "Be careful on the road."

How far is it from the patriarch's house to Li Xiandong's house? Why should we be careful in our own village?

Li Xiaohan smiled slightly, it was just something he had given away, and he was indeed happy if the recipient could cherish it and value it.

Looking at the backs of Li Xiandong and his daughter as they walked out of the door, Patriarch Li murmured, "Maybe I really made a mistake when we separated the family."

The unfair family division at the beginning, now it seems, has really failed the honest people.

"No, dad, it was right to separate the families at the beginning."

If it is not broken, how can it be established? Now it seems that Uncle Xiandong's family has got out of the shadow of family separation and has gone its own way.

In the past, people felt pitiful, but now they feel respectable.

=== Chapter === 68

On the 15th day of the second lunar month, everything was shaken, and the earthquake was like thunder. Gu said he was startled. (1)

As soon as the Waking of Insects arrives, the spring thunder shakes, the Yang Qi rises, the climate warms up, and everything begins to look green. However, this does not include the ten acres of wheat from Landlord Zhang's farmland that Li Xiandong's family had previously purchased.

Perhaps it was landlord Zhang's son who was really late for autumn sowing, and last year Xiaohan was hit by hail, wind and snow. Not only did the ten acres of wheat not turn green, but it gradually withered and turned yellow. Once it was pulled out, all the roots destroyed.

"Prodigal son, prodigal son. If you ruin the crops, you will be struck by lightning!" Li Xiandong kept chanting with heartache. The kind of sadness, anger and resentment, pity for his misfortune and anger for not fighting, came to his face.

The day before the Waking of Insects, Li Xiandong finally accepted his fate and decided to shovel out the wheat seedlings in the ten acres of dry land, level the ground, and plant pepper instead.

On the day of the Jingzhe, Li Xiaohan and Wang were in a seedling field, pulverizing the soil, digging ditches, and mixing soil with ash and fertilizer, preparing to sow pepper seeds later.

Originally, it would be more suitable to breed later, but Li Xiaohan saw that the weather was okay, so he chose an acre of land to breed early, sow it first, and then cover it with straw to keep it warm. If it succeeded, this batch of crops would The pepper harvest can be earlier.

Li Xiandong was using a dry land plow to open up the land nearby, his face full of bitterness and hatred.

"What a sin. Landlord Zhang's son is really a sinner. A good season of winter wheat was wasted like this." The farmer next to him who was inspecting his wheat said with regret.

"No, my father is heartbroken." Li Xiaohan answered, observing the speaker carefully, it turned out that he was still a member of the Li clan. According to seniority, Li Xiaohan had to call him the uncle, "Man Shan Bo, is this your family's field?"

"Yes, it was opened a few years ago." Li Manshan smiled honestly.

"Xiaohan, are you sowing pepper seeds?" Li Manshan asked curiously.

Pepper is a familiar thing to people in Pingshan Village. Anyone who was lucky enough to drink it once during the Chinese New Year will never forget the taste.

A while ago, Qinggang sold the pepper wine, and the villagers speculated that Li Xiaohan sold it to Qinggang. The prices at Qingbang are really staggering.

"It looks like vegetable seeds." Li Manshan took a closer look and said seriously.

"No, I heard that peppers are managed the same as vegetables." Li Xiaohan replied.

"Then your field will be filled with water after spring." Li Manshan reminded that farming is no small matter.

"I know." Li Xiaohan naturally felt this intention and responded.

"What, is this a pepper plant? Let me see." Another farmer next to him ran over curiously to see, there is something new these days and everyone wants to join in the fun, "Hey, really Just like those vegetable seeds."

The sound of these two people talking attracted other people. There were many people in this field who were busy preparing for spring plowing or patrolling the winter wheat. They saw a group of people gathered around here. Even though he was far away, he ran over to see the excitement even if he didn't hear it.

It only embarrassed Li Xiaohan.

However, everyone was talking to themselves while watching. One said it looked like it needed to be watered, and the other said it looked like it was small, as if it would break if it was watered too much. In short, according to the Everyone has many years of experience in farming, and everyone has his or her own opinions.

Li Xiaohan listened carefully, and most of them made sense. As expected, the core of planting is nothing more than water and fertilizer.

As he talked, the topic got sideways for some reason.

"Did you know that the clan leader suddenly focused on this year's child exam? During this period, Xinhe closed the door all day long to teach the clan's batch of dolls to prepare for the child exam. He was very busy and exhausted."

Speaking of this, it is an important topic at the beginning of the new year. Someone immediately answered, "No, that kid in my family is always in a hurry for lunch. He said he has a lot of homework to do." Write."

"It's only noon at your house, but I can't keep up with my family. I have to light a lamp and boil oil at night to study. I originally wanted to let him gain experience this year, but now it looks like he is rushing to take the exam. I'm in the middle. If it doesn't work, just go home and farm. Isn't it stipulated in the rules of our clan? If you don't have that day, don't delay. You can just go home and farm." What this man said, half Partly showy and half heartbroken.

"Don't say this in front of the clan leader. The clan leader is looking forward to having a scholar in the clan, and his eyes are red." The man just reminded him quickly.

"I know, I know." The person showing off said quickly and sighed, "Oh, our clan hasn't had a scholar for a long time. It's difficult. I don't know if Xinhe can pass the exam this year."

As he said this, regardless of whether there was a scholar in the family or not, or whether he was prepared to die, he all sighed and said, "Yes, it is difficult not to have a scholar. When I go back, I have to ask my mother-in-law to cook more for my ancestors." A stick of incense can protect us."

"That's the truth."

Everyone was talking and talking. Li Xiaohan lowered his head and listened carefully, thinking slowly.

It seems that the patriarch has used the information brought by the Qinggang as a secret weapon, and is ready to give it a try this year.

I don't know if it's useful, but it should be. After all, those three-year, five-year college entrance examination papers were so popular in my previous life.

"Speaking of which, will the eldest grandson of the Shengli family, Changrong, end up this year as well? Didn't he say that studying was good in previous years?" Suddenly someone said that he had a bald mouth.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough." There were two or three coughs at the same time.

Nowadays, Li Xiandong's house and Li Xiannan's house are separated because of the eldest grandson's affairs. It seems that everyone knows it but will not say it in person.

For a moment, everyone was embarrassed.

Li Xiaohan slowly straightened up, but looked at everyone with a smile and said nothing.

The first person to speak was even more embarrassed, "Xiaohan, your uncle and I are quick to talk... Well, well, you sow the seeds slowly, work slowly, I'll leave first."

Li Xiaohan still didn't speak.

"Hey, we're leaving too. We still need to take a look at these acres of wheat seedlings."

"No, they're all gone, they're all gone."

After everyone left, someone from a distance could be heard pointing at the talkative person and scolding him, "For no reason, why are you talking about this?"

"I really forgot, I just said that quickly."

"Why don't you talk so fast that you'll be beaten to death?" Everyone said bitterly.

"Ouch." The accused person suddenly shouted, swayed, and became a little shorter.

"What's wrong?"

"I stepped on a hole and twisted it."

"It's not twisted, is it?"

"It hurts a little, it's okay."

"Okay. Let's go."

From a distance, I heard the voices of this group of people getting quieter and quieter, and the smile on Li Xiaohan's face became lighter and weaker.

"Xiaohan." Mrs. Wang, who had just been standing aside and wanted to be invisible, stood up, touched her belly that was not very pregnant under her winter coat, and said worriedly.

God, please give her a son.

"It's okay, Mom, don't think too much, let's just live our own lives. I'm here." Li Xiaohan said.

"Yes." Ms. Wang was a little relieved, yes, her daughter is so capable, she can take on three sons by herself.

After all the pepper seeds were sown, Li Xiaohan and Wang went home first. After the mother and daughter had prepared the meal, Li Xiandong was just carrying farm tools and came back before dark.

"Dad, wash your hands and come over for dinner."

"knew."

Under the flickering firelight, the three members of the Li family gathered around the stove to eat.

"Will the Qing Gang send someone over to pull drinks tomorrow?" Li Xiandong asked while eating.

"Yes, Dad, you are going to plow the fields tomorrow. I can do it alone." Li Xiaohan swallowed a mouthful of rice and replied.

Spring plowing is a heavy task and her family has little labor, so this time is very important.

"Within this time, I'll finish moving the wine and then go out."

"I have to follow the Qing Gang into Fucheng. The 30% of the silver given to Mrs. Zhang must be sent over."

"Then I have to get over it." Li Xiandong lowered his head to pick up the rice, as if there was no room for negotiation.

"Xiaohan, let your father go with you, otherwise we won't worry about you being alone." Wang advised.

"Okay, let's go and come back as soon as possible. It will probably be done in one morning." Li Xiaohan compromised.

After eating, the family washed up early and turned off the lights and went to bed. They had done a day's work today, and there were still a lot of things to be busy with tomorrow.

Early the next morning, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong moved out the pepper wine for the Qinggang early and checked whether there was any damage.

The Qing Gang arrived very quickly. Before the hour passed, the Qing Gang had already brought the original wine from the Lao Qiu Family Tavern.

Although the raw materials of pepper wine can no longer be concealed, and some well-informed people have guessed it, the Qing Gang is still holding on to it for as long as they can.

Anyway, no one came to look for Li Xiaohan. I don't know if no one came here or because he was warned by the Qinggang.

Li Xiaohan thought for a while, his output was so low, and he was really busy with spring plowing recently, so it would be quite worry-free to only cooperate with the Qinggang, so he would just do it first.

This time, he was still the leader of the Qing Gang. The two parties were familiar with the transaction. He paid back the twenty bottles of wine that the Qing Gang had advanced last time. The price difference this time was higher than last time. After a while, I made another two hundred taels. However, the cost has also increased, and the price of the pepper has also increased, and Mrs. Zhang has to give her share.

"Miss Li, why don't you expand the scale a little bit more?" Leader Qing asked cautiously and expectantly.

"Forget it, let's do it next time. Don't look at it. I took nearly two hundred taels, but the prices of all kinds of peppers and spices have increased, and my cost has also increased. I will have to follow suit later. Your convoy will go to Fucheng and you still have to pay protection fees, so there won't be much left." Li Xiaohan said sadly.

In fact, it is still possible to earn money, and it is much easier than farming. However, wealth does not show wealth, and poverty is the truth.

"Protection money?" the leader of the Green Gang repeated with a hint of confusion, as if he was asking what protection money was, and who dared to collect protection money from you under the Green Gang.

"Yes, protection fee, you have to pay the protection fee when the Qing Gang comes." Li Xiaohan affirmed with a half-smile.

The leader of the Qing Gang understood and was silent for a moment.

"Brother, you brought this with you when you came. Do you want to give it to Miss Li?" Seeing the silence in the atmosphere, one of the subordinates cleverly came to the rescue.

The leader of the Qing Gang was reminded and then said, "Miss Li, the collection of children's examination papers in the Jiangnan area that you mentioned has lived up to its trust and has been brought to you."

"Ah, it's this."

Li Xiaohan took the package handed over to him in surprise. This time it was thicker than the last one.

"Mom, please help me go to the patriarch's house to call Xin and brother over, and tell him that the gift you mentioned last time has arrived." Li Xiaohan said, it would probably be even worse for her mother to stay and get along with the people from the Qing Gang. It's better to let her mother go report the news and let her father stay at home.

"Yes." Wang heard this, put down the things in her hands, straightened her clothes, and hurried out.

Li Xiaohan opened the tightly packed book wrapped in oil paper. The first thing that caught his eye were the large characters "Jiangnan Chunwei Collection" and a few small characters "Twenty-Three Years of Taihe" at the bottom; he turned the page again. The next book has the same name, but the small characters are different, 'Twenty-two Years of Taihe'; there is also a "Xin Ya Ji", signed by Mr. Yuan Shan, I don't know him, he is probably a famous person.

"Thank you, Gang Leader Ye. Gang Leader Ye really helped us a lot." Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

"How about increasing supply?"

Li Xiaohan frowned with his hands, "I'll finish the spring plowing first, and then I'll expand my house by another row, so that when the peppers are harvested, I guess I can expand the scale. We'll see then. We will supply you the goods according to the situation, and under the same conditions, we will give you priority." Li Xiaohan said that hope is at hand.

"Look at my manpower and material resources. No matter how much I have, I can't have much more. Your stall is too big, and it will be troublesome if you get into trouble with some people who are not easy to mess with. It is better to be steady and steady now. Our foundation is If you are weak, take one step and think three steps, then you will be safe." Li Xiaohan hinted that the world is difficult.

"What Miss Li said makes sense." Gang Leader Qing thought for a moment and nodded.

It is true that Taisun's foundation is not stable now. Although he has the support of the old emperor, the emperor is old after all. King Ding's attitude is unclear now, but there is an undercurrent in private. In front of these forces, he will never say that his foundation is meager. Too much. There are so many brothers waiting to eat, so it is prudent.

After convincing the Qinggang, other things will be easy to handle. Li Xiaohan looked through these books and found that she didn't know much about the ancient imperial examinations, which were just recitation, reading comprehension and writing.

Alas, it's either a liberal arts major or it's difficult. The few words I can recognize are all blessings from my past and present lives.

After a while, Patriarch Li and Li Xinhe hurried over.

"Qing Gang Leader." The two of them just bowed to the Qing Gang Leader casually and said hello, then threw themselves on the pile of books.

Visible to the naked eye, breathing has become much faster.

After waiting for a while, Chief Li suppressed the excitement in his heart, raised his hand and asked, "Thank you Gang Leader Ye for your help. I, the Li family, will never forget it. I wonder what the price of this book is?"

"As for the price, let's give it twelve taels for the two book prices plus the shipping price. As for the affection, Miss Li and I have already settled it clearly." Gang Leader Qing said.

"Yes." Patriarch Li looked upright, and then took out a ten-tael ingot of silver from his arms. Apparently he had no doubts about the price. Buying books in Fucheng is expensive, plus shipping costs, etc., it's already calculated. Cheap.

Of course, this favor is not included.

Li Xiaohan secretly smacked his lips, studying in ancient times was really expensive. After removing the favor, only ten taels of silver went out. Both parties thought that the price was normal. The little money I earn is nothing compared to studying.

After exchanging the goods, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong packed up their things and followed the Qing Gang to Fucheng.

Patriarch Li and Li Xinhe wrapped the books in oil paper, borrowed a backpack, and ran home furtively, for fear of being discovered.

Following the Qing Gang's wine transport team, Li Xiaohan got a seat next to the wine jar, and soon arrived in Fucheng. The Qing Gang people watched as Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong walked into the same building with silver coins in their arms. Fu Restaurant.

As expected, the Qing Gang has to pay protection fees even when they come.

The Qing gang leader's eyes were filled with deep thought, and his eyes were dark and unclear.

Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong walked into Tongfu Restaurant. This was the second time they came in. Li Xiandong was a little uneasy, but Li Xiaohan was okay - he had been in five-star hotels before. There's nothing surprising about this. He went straight to the shopkeeper.

"It belongs to the shopkeeper," Li Xiaohan looked at both sides and whispered, "I am Mrs. Zhang's partner in selling pepper wine. I am here to pay the 30% of the profit. I don't know if the shopkeeper knows."

The shopkeeper was a thin middle-aged man. Hearing this, he looked up at Li Xiaohan and was secretly surprised by Li Xiaohan's youth.

With his eyesight, he could not fail to see that it was the young girl who made the decision between the two fathers.

But after all, it was the well-informed manager of Tongfu Restaurant. After a moment, he came to his senses and said, "The housekeeper told me, Miss Li, please come with me."

Li Xiaohan followed and entered a small wing at the back. Tongfu Restaurant is a skilled business veteran. Li Xiaohan's account book is clear and clear beyond the shopkeeper's expectation. There is no problem with the 30% profit share, but the amount is a bit unexpected by the shopkeeper. Unexpected.

Pepper wine has been very popular in Fucheng recently, but I really didn't expect the sales to be so small.

"Can my restaurant also supply Miss Li's pepper wine?" After all, the pepper wine was new and Mrs. Zhang had her name on it, so the shopkeeper thought of giving it a try.

However, Li Xiaohan unexpectedly showed a embarrassment, "The price of peppers has increased significantly recently, and I am also busy with spring plowing, so I really can't increase the production."

Well, there was a misunderstanding, the shopkeeper said, "Forget it then."

"Then when will we come back to check the account in the future?"

"Just once every three months. We also sort it out and hand it to the housekeeper every three months. Miss Li's accounts are clear. It will be fine if she comes back in June next time. It won't be a problem."

"Okay, I'll bother the shopkeeper." Li Xiaohan knew that his amount was too small, and he was too lazy to report it again every quarter. This is very good, this is not because I am lazy.

After agreeing on the relevant matters, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong said goodbye and went out. The whole process took less than a quarter of an hour, and the Qing Gang was still waiting outside.

"Gang Leader Ye, I'm done with my business, let's go our separate ways here. Let's buy some meat and go back. Come back on time next time." Li Xiaohan said.

"Same output?" Qing Gang leader asked, they couldn't take over Tongfu Restaurant.

"Same output." Li Xiaohan replied, as if he had understood what Gang Leader Qing was thinking.

Sure enough, after hearing Li Xiaohan's reply, Gang Leader Qing showed a slight smile in his eyes, raised his hand and said, "Miss Li, take your leave."

"Farewell."

Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong went to the West Market to buy some fresh meat. Spring plowing was just around the corner, so they could keep up with the nutrition, and then they hurried home.

Unexpectedly, just as they left the city gate, the sound of horse hoofbeats approached behind them, and a man calling Miss Li, Master Li, chased after them.

Li Xiaohan turned around and recognized that this was a person from the Qing Gang, and stopped quickly.

"Miss Li, the West City government has shipped a herd of cows, and each household can purchase one based on their household registration. Our gang leader thought that you might be interested, Miss Li, and asked me to inform you." Come on. The man said breathlessly.

"Really?" Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong's eyes widened with surprise on their faces.

This is really what is missing.

=== Chapter === 69

"How many cows are there? Where are they? How much are they worth? Why do we need a place of origin document?" Li Xiaohan asked urgently.

"There are about a hundred of them, right? I didn't count too carefully. They are in the open space at the end of the West Market. The price is about 10 taels of silver according to the size, which is quite affordable. It is said that it is a rule of the imperial court to require a document of place of birth, in order to prevent irregularities. Farmers resell and earn the price difference." The visitor explained.

Li Xiaohan glanced at Li Xiandong and saw that Li Xiandong was impatient, and knew that the price was worth buying.

We need to do it as soon as possible. Just 100 cows will be distributed to every household near Fucheng. There will not even be a splash. Especially now for spring plowing, how important a cow is.

So it's a case of being quick or slow.

"What should we do? Our home is far away from the city. After all the delays, we are probably gone." Li Xiandong said anxiously, "How about I run back first, Xiaohan, are you waiting for me here?"

Li Xiaohan was almost laughed to death by her father. How fast could this person run? It was better to think of other ways.

"Brother Xiaomao, where is your family from?" Li Xiaohan finally remembered the name of this eldest brother. Someone once called him Xiaomao.

"I can't. I have a business registration and live in Difu City, so I can't buy it. None of the brothers in the gang are suitable. Some residents in the city wanted to buy it, but they were all rejected. It is said that it is very strict." Brother Xiaomao said.

Seeing that Xiao Mao couldn't think of a solution, Li Xiaohan turned his eyes and stared at Xiao Mao's mount, "Brother Xiao Mao, can your horse hold two people?"

"No, no, Dahei is too old. It will be useless if two people run back and forth." Xiao Mao shook his head in panic.

Horses are also an important asset to them. Donkey carts are often used to transport goods on weekdays. Even if a horse-drawn carriage is used to pull goods, it is still a light cargo. It takes two people and a horse to go back and forth. Especially Xiao Mao feels sensitively that the two people are himself and Mr. Li, two grown men, his beloved mount will be ruined.

"Then there's no other way." Li Xiaohan frowned and said, "Dad, does mom know where our family's place of birth documents are?"

Li Xiandong was stunned when he heard this, "I know. She kept it."

"Brother Xiaomao, are you okay? If you are okay, can you help me go to my house and ask my mother to bring out my birthplace document for you? You can help us deliver it over quickly. We will wait for you at Xishi Niuji. "

"Big brother asked me to listen to Miss Li. If Miss Li believes me, I can make a trip." Xiao Mao breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that there was no need for two people to sit.

"Then please leave it to Brother Xiaomao." Li Xiaohan breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and said to Li Xiandong, "Dad, give me your hat."

Taking the hat handed over by Li Xiandong, Li Xiaohan said to Xiao Mao, "Brother Xiao Mao, if you give this cotton hat to my mother, she will believe it. Also, please tell my mother and let her inform." The patriarch's bull market needs to be done quickly."

This cotton hat was jointly made by Wang and Li Xiaohan. They thought that the cold wind would blow all the way to Fucheng, so they brought it over, but they didn't expect it to be useful here.

"Okay. Miss Li, I'm leaving." Xiao Mao bent down and took the cotton hat, patted the horse's belly, raised a burst of dust, and galloped away.

"Xiaohan, let's go to Naxi City." Seeing Xiaomao walking away, Li Xiandong said anxiously.

"Yeah. Let's go."

The two fathers and daughters hurriedly came to the end of the West Market. This place was originally a livestock market. On weekdays, people occasionally came to sell sheep, mules, and horses. But now the government had recruited them, and a hundred cows crowded the place. It was extremely narrow, and the air was hot and smelled of livestock.

As soon as he arrived here, Li Xiandong's eyes couldn't leave the cows. It felt like every cow was Li Xiandong's dream cow.

Instead, Li Xiaohan carefully observed the surrounding environment.

Perhaps this time the requirements of the government were very strict, and people around here were all the residents of the city watching the fun. When Li Xiaohan and the others arrived, there happened to be a person holding the household registration documents and said, "Uncle, I am a good citizen." Ah, look what I've written here."

The official took it and took a look, "No, your land is in the city. What do you do with the cow?"

"Master, I have two hundred acres of farmland outside the city. It's time to use cattle."

"No, a big family like you must have cows. This time it is for the farmers outside the city who don't have cows." The official said righteously, "Leave quickly before we continue to pester you. Punish you."

Sure enough, I saw that man walking away dejectedly.

Then I saw the official saying loudly, "This Niu Zheng was proposed by His Highness Taisun to the Emperor in order to alleviate the suffering of farmers in various places during spring plowing. This is the benevolent government of the Emperor Taisun who cares for all the people."

Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows, why did he mention his grandson?

Is this a face-saving project to improve Taisun's reputation among the people?

Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows, quietly approached an official next to him who was wearing the same official uniform, and asked in a low voice, "Uncle, the official, an aunt from a civilian girl's family has married to Qingcheng next door. I would like to know if this virtuous government will come to Qingcheng." Huh? Please send a letter to your aunt to ask your aunt to prepare the money as soon as possible."

"How do I know about such things? We are only responsible for this city, and other cities don't know about it." The official refused righteously.

Li Xiaohan was helpless, it seemed like he couldn't find out.

"My lord, my daughter is also married in Qingcheng. Do you want to ask?" A man suddenly walked out next to him, holding the officer's hand and whispering. A white silver light shone through the sleeves of his hands. Flash past.

Li Xiaohan frowned and looked, Zhang's housekeeper? ! But it's not convenient to say hello at this time.

I saw the official weighing it gently with his hands, and explained righteously, "The grandson and His Majesty the Emperor understand that Dingcheng has been fighting for years. The grandson showed his respect for his uncle, and the first batch of these cattle was shipped to Dingcheng is coming. Other cities should wait first."

"Yes, yes, we are grateful to the great grandson and the emperor for their grace." Zhang's housekeeper nodded and respectfully stepped back.

Li Xiaohan watched from the side, almost unable to control the corners of his mouth.

Yes, yes, the grandson was concerned about his uncle's difficulties, so he went to his uncle's territory to gain reputation.

You are so kind to your uncle. If your uncle does anything in the future, I will be really sorry for your great grandson's thoughts today.

Politics, sometimes it sounds lofty and lofty, sometimes it is so down-to-earth.

No matter what, the beneficiaries are farmers like her who are short of cattle. Sometimes the world is in a state of affairs, and not all risks come. Occasionally, you can still make a fortune if you step on it.

Li Xiaohan turned his head with a narrow smile in his eyes, only to see Butler Zhang lowering his head and whispering something to Zhang Fu, and then Zhang Fu turned to look in her direction.

The smile in Li Xiaohan's eyes slowly disappeared, and then he slowly opened the corners of his mouth, revealing a standard smile with eight teeth, and saluted.

But she didn't know that her smile didn't reach her eyes.

Zhang Fu nodded in return.

Didn't he see anything? Logically speaking, it should not be possible. Li Xiaoxin thought to himself that the most he could do was ask a few words.

"Xiaohan, what are you looking at?" Li Xiandong struggled to look away from the cattle, only to see Li Xiaohan looking forward in a trance.

"Oh, I was just saying hello to Mr. Zhang, who lived in our house for a few days before." Li Xiaohan explained.

"Hey, is Young Master Zhang here? Why did that noble young master like him come to this dirty place? Where is he? Do we want to say hello to him?" Li Xiandong asked, looking around.

Look, even an honest man like his father knows that it is unusual for a noble man like Mr. Zhang to appear here, so he must have other purposes.

It's just a matter of going to the scene to investigate the most real situation in person.

"I guess I just passed by for a while. He has already left. Dad, do you have any cattle you like?" Li Xiaohan said.

Speaking of cows, Li Xiandong became excited, "Look at the one over there. It's fat, strong, and has smooth coat. It looks like a healthy calf at first glance. And the one next to it, look at its sharp eyes, and Black and bright, with ears moving back and forth, it is a smart calf, which must be very obedient; and the one in the northwest corner is strutting, walking steadily, so strong and good-looking. They are all good cows. ox."

Li Xiandong praised with satisfaction, then turned to look at the entrance, "I wonder when Brother Xiaomao will come. Can this cow have our turn?"

"Dad, don't worry. Brother Xiao Mao is riding a fast horse and will be here soon." Li Xiaohan comforted him, "Take a closer look and see which end you like. When Brother Xiao Mao comes, we will come immediately." Buy it."

"Yeah." Li Xiandong thought it made sense, and immediately turned his head and compared again and again which cow was the best.

It's a pity that Li Xiandong has good taste, and there is someone who has almost the same vision as him. About half an hour later, a sweaty and panting farm man ran over, handed over the document of place of birth, signed and fingerprinted it, and Li Xiandong was immediately attracted to him. The first healthy cow was bought.

"Ah." Li Xiandong cried out in pain, with an expression on his face as if his beloved girl had been taken away by a rich man with a bald head and a fat belly.

It was probably someone from a village near Fucheng. Li Xiaohan felt a little anxious, but after some calculations, he comforted Li Xiandong and said, "Dad, don't worry. I did the math and Brother Xiaomao should be here soon." ."

The weather is very good, the road is smooth, and Xiao Mao is riding a fast horse. If we hurry up and go back and forth, it will probably take less than an hour.

After listening to Li Xiaohan's words, Li Xiandong started to look at the entrance of the market, but Xiaomao still didn't appear.

"Dad, let's see which cow is better. Look at more cows." Li Xiaomiao said.

So Li Xiandong turned his head and continued to look at the cow. ,

After Li Xiaohan and the others saw the first person successfully buy the cow, several more people came one after another and all succeeded. Fortunately, Li Xiandong's newly chosen cow of his dreams was not taken away, but Li Xiandong was visibly more anxious.

"Master Li, Miss Li, here." Fortunately, Xiao Mao finally arrived at this time.

Li Xiandong took the document of place of birth and hurried to the official office without even having time to read it. Li Xiaohan has just figured out the rules. He must first go to the entrance official's office to check the documents and pass the test, then follow the second official to select the promising cattle, measure the size of the cattle with the third official, determine the price, and pay. Finally, go to the fourth official office to register the status of the cattle.

After this process, Li Xiaohan explained everything thoroughly to Li Xiandong.

Of course there was no problem with Li Xiandong's place of origin document, and the process went very quickly. After completing the registration information at the last official office, Li Xiandong pressed his fingerprints and finally showed a smile of great joy, just like the smile he had when the last piece of tiles fell on the new house last year.

"Be good." Li Xiaohan touched the calf. This was the second cow selected by Li Xiandong. His dark and bright eyes looked at the two of them curiously. His ears swayed from side to side, his tail swayed, and his head stuck out. Lick Li Xiaohan's hand.

"Hey, I'm hungry." Li Xiandong smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed.

"There's nothing to eat around here, right? Wait here for the clan leader and the others first?" Li Xiaohan said.

"Yeah." The two led the cow to a relatively remote corner, and Xiao Mao was still there.

"Brother Xiaomao, thank you very much. I have troubled you for a long time." Li Xiaohan said gratefully.

"It's okay, I just rode back and forth without any other effort. When I set off, Mrs. Li had already gone to Patriarch Li's house. I guess you people are already halfway there." Xiao Mao explained.

"Yeah. Thank you, Brother Xiaomao. We are here waiting for the clan members to go back together."

"Well, Miss Li, if there is nothing else, I will leave first."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Brother Mao. I'll treat you to a drink next time." Li Xiaohan said.

"Okay." Xiao Mao's eyes lit up. The pepper wine is now being sold out very quickly, and the brothers in the gang don't drink much. Now that Miss Li is giving him wine, the gang leader won't refuse, right? Yao Wu Er 75 281: "Miss Li, I'll just drink the turbid wine, the gang leader of Chunjiu will watch it carefully."

"Sure." Li Xiaohan said with a smile. It's easy to brew one more jar.

After bidding farewell to Xiao Mao, Li Xiaohan thought that it would take at least half an hour for the clan members to arrive, whether they walked or took an ox cart.

"Dad, you look after the cows here. I'll go to the West Market and buy some cabbage and wheat for the cows." Li Xiaohan said.

"Do you want me to go and watch the cows here?" Li Xiandong hesitated.

"No, cows are big animals. If something goes wrong, I can't stop you. And while you are here, you can take a look to see if there are any suitable cows. I don't know how many people from the clan are here. When the time comes, you can choose the right one and buy it, there are more and more people like this."

As time passed, more and more people came from nearby, and while they were talking, another cow was bought.

"Sure, go ahead."

Li Xiaohan walked to the nearby West Market. They had been to the West Market several times and were familiar with it. However, there were not many people setting up stalls today because the farmers were busy preparing for spring plowing.

As for those who came to set up stalls, after hearing the news about the cattle market, they had already packed up and gone home to get paperwork - who is farming and doesn't want a cow? Even if they have one, their relatives may also want one. Such big news, I must go back and report it.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan shopped around and bought a few cabbage seeds. After being stored in the cellar for a winter, Li Xiaohan was not very juicy anymore, but it was still good for cattle to eat. He bought half a catty of soybean grain and finally gave it to The two bought some steamed buns.

Back at the West Market, Li Xiandong was still looking around, looking at the cattle for a while, and at the entrance to see if Li Xiaohan had come back. Seeing Li Xiaohan walking over from a distance, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Dad, here." Li Xiaohan handed Li Xiandong two buns.

"You eat first." Li Xiandong smiled, took the cabbage, and fed it to the cow one by one.

Li Xiaohan looked at her father like this. He was already so powerful that he couldn't even take care of himself. Forget it, don't care. Now that her father was in charge, let her father do this first.

After the father and daughter finished eating their buns, fed their cattle, and watched nearly half of the cattle sold in the cattle market, and the officials lined up in front of them, the Li clan came running over panting.

Li Xiaohan scanned it and found that in this late winter and early spring weather, the tribesmen opened their cotton-padded clothes and sweat broke out on their foreheads.

"Dad, please take everyone to line up quickly. There are more and more people now. Let's line up first. While waiting in line, tell everyone about the cow you like. Do you still remember the process?"

"Hey, remember." Li Xiandong handed the leash to Li Xiaohan, waved his hand, and quickly led his tribe to the official station, "Everyone, follow me."

Li Xiaohan watched the dozen or so people hula la lining up quickly, and after careful identification, there was her ex-uncle, well, her ex-uncle cut eucommia at home, and the ten taels of silver she earned last year from the Zhang family, she probably saved enough to buy cattle. Money; there is Brother Da Zhuang, Uncle Da Shu has weak legs and needs a cow. Although their family has little land, the three of them are strong laborers. If you save some Eucommia and sell Qiu Lizi, I think it will be enough; and Uncle Dashan, well, Uncle Dashan has a small family, and Hua'er and Niu'er are still young, so he needs a cow...

But, why isn't there her second uncle? Could it be that her grandfather's house didn't have those ten taels of silver?

impossible! She must have kept the money for other uses, such as reading to her cousin.

That's a bit troublesome. Her father bought a cow, but her grandfather didn't, so he might have decided to borrow their family's cow. Do you have to think of a way?

Li Xiaohan frowned in thought, while Li Xiandong led twelve people, who kept talking nonstop, "Everyone, look at these cows. Only half of them are left now. I have been looking at them for a long time. The tawny ones in the northwest , the ears are very big, and the frame is strong; the two more to the right have bright and healthy fur; the third one to the right has a particularly cheerful and lively tail wagging..."

As Li Xiandong said, the surrounding tribesmen nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, yes, I like it."

"Dazhuang, I like this one too. I'm your uncle. You let me, your uncle, choose first."

Da Zhuang, a man who usually doesn't talk much, said in a low voice at this moment, "Uncle, I give in. My father will beat me to death when I go back. I'm still ahead of you. You can choose someone else."

Da Zhuang is indeed ranked in front of the mountain due to his youth and fast pace.

"You..." Dashan was extremely angry, but he could only choose something else.

"Xiandong, come to the middle, don't let anyone else hear you." Li Guiqian reminded. He just noticed that he was listening to what they were saying.

"Yes, yes, yes, keep your voice down, keep your voice down." The Li clan members immediately glared at the eavesdroppers. There were so many of them, and others were afraid of them, but listening blatantly turned into pricking up their ears secretly. Just listen.

"After talking about this, let me tell you about the process. Have you brought your place of residence documents?" Li Xiandong asked.

Everyone touched their chests and took them all out to take a look, "I've brought them all. The clan leader will ring the ancestral bell to inform everyone."

"Okay, this first official will check the documents, and the second one will lead everyone to choose the cow..."

Li Xiaohan watched his father and the others busy working together and then dispersed. He took out the documents from his arms and put them back. Niu Daozi felt bored beside him and mooed softly, and even stretched out his mouth to lick Li Xiaohan's palm.

"Little Clever, wait a moment, let's take your brothers and sisters home." Li Xiaohan smiled and touched the cow's head, "Let me think again, sister, and I won't let you do it at my grandfather's house." Bai Gong, so as not to tire you out and prevent you from growing taller."

Niu Duzi seemed to be very sensible, and gently leaned his head on Li Xiaohan's hand. Li Xiaohan touched his head and pondered.

Nearly an hour later, the Li family in Pingshan Village lined up to buy the cows, and everyone held the cows beside them and smiled.

Li Xiaohan was affected by this atmosphere and couldn't help but feel happy, "Dad, let's go. It's not good to gather here. The officials over there are looking over frequently, afraid that we will cause trouble."

"Yes, let's go home."

"Go home."

There are many cows, and it is easy to attract attention. Everyone led the cows out of the West Market and out of the city gate, and they were all envious along the way. With the cow, everyone was afraid of attracting the pink eye disease, so they suppressed their excitement and just walked out of the city as quickly as possible.

"Did you see that those people just looked at us with envy?" Walking on the road with no one else around, the men from Pingshan Village began to talk loudly.

"Of course, who doesn't envy us." Another person agreed, "Look at how good and strong a calf I am."

"If I have to say better, my cow is better. Look at how bright the coat is."

"No, it's better to be my cow..."

Everyone debated for a while, and finally reached a consensus that Li Xiandong's cattle were the best.

Li Xiandong smiled honestly, "I picked them early, so this batch of cattle is good."

"No, fortunately Xiaohan and Xiandong were smart enough to send someone to notify us immediately. As soon as he received the news, the clan leader was so anxious that he rang the ancestral bell to notify us. We ran all the way here."

"Yes, it's really thrilling. The cows we picked are all good. When we came out, everyone who came last was probably sold out. They were crying on the ground."

"Your Majesty and Grandson are so kind. It would be great if there was a second batch of cows."

"Don't think about it. Didn't you listen to what the official said? We are given priority to supply our Dingcheng. My grandson is thinking of your uncle. But this can't happen a second time, right? What about other cities?"

"No, I guess there won't be a second time. Fortunately you are smart. Thank you."

"It was Xiaohan's idea. I was in a hurry and there was nothing I could do. I almost ran back." Li Xiandong smiled naively.

"Fortunately, Xiaohan is here. If you had to run back, Xiandong, we wouldn't be able to make the trip at all."

"Hahaha."

Everyone laughed, but Li Xiandong didn't mind and laughed the most happily while rubbing his head.

Smiling all the way home, Li Xiaohan was said by a group of adults,

"Smart enough."

"As expected of our daughter named Li."

"Born with a clever mind."

"Your grandmother bless you."

"One is worth two."

Li Xiaohan felt a little embarrassed at the beginning and ended up laughing stiffly.

Just like that, destroy the universe...

Finally, walking and talking and laughing all the way, I arrived at Pingshan Village without knowing it.

Knowing that the villagers went to the city to buy cattle, what a big deal. Some people in the family came out to buy cattle and were anxious about whether they had bought the cattle. There were no cattle buyers, so they came to the entrance of the village with envy, ready to take a look at the excitement.

Li Xiaohan glanced over and saw his mother, the Wang family, standing at the front and looking at her. Seeing Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan's father and daughter returning home, leading a cow, their faces immediately burst into extremely joyful smiles.

Li Xiaohan saw her mother waving her hands and laughed. From the corner of her eye, she saw her grandfather, her second uncle, third uncle and cousin, standing aside. The grandfather's face was full of envy and complexity.

Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows.

"They're back."

"They're back, buying cattle, buying cattle."

"Oh my god, so many cows, how many? Let me count them."

As Li Xiandong and the others appeared, the people waiting at the entrance of the village began to cheer and began to walk towards them, and people on both sides began to merge.

coming.

=== Chapter === 70

"This cow is really good."

The villagers' love for cows is straightforward. At this moment, they may touch the cow's body, pat the cow's head, and smooth the cow's tail.

The docile cow stood and let the villagers stroke it, while the more tempered cow raised its head and mooed loudly, as if to say "Don't touch me."

The villagers laughed happily and said, "This is quite exciting."

Someone else asked, "How much does this cow cost?"

"I have ten twenty-one cents,"

"I have twelve or thirty dollars."

After hearing this, the villagers all said, "It's cheap, it's a good deal."

"Xiandong, how much does your cow cost?" Li Shengli and others finally walked up to him.

Li Xiaohan raised his lips and smiled.

"Dad, I have eleven or two dollars for this cow." Li Xiandong said happily.

"Okay, okay." Li Shengli said solemnly, "Xiandong, I'm getting older..."

Li Xiaohan said in a clear voice, "Grandpa, my father has been waiting for you for a long time just because you are old. It's just that I don't have the place of birth document to buy for you, otherwise the cow will be taken back if found out. What's the matter? Uncle didn't go?"

The voice of a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl was clear and crisp. In addition, Li Xiaohan and others were already the center of the crowd, so people had already secretly paid attention to them.

As soon as these words came out, Li Shengli looked slightly embarrassed, a trace of anger flashed in his eyes, and his voice became a little stiff, "It's just that the money at home is not easy to get..."

"Yeah, why don't we have money at home? When we split up, my father was given 5 tons of house building money. Later, he said that after excluding the house building money, he only had 10 tons of money, which is equivalent to 10 tons of money. Did you give my father 2 ounces of livestock pots and pans? There should be 8 ounces left!" Li Xiaohan's voice was full of surprise and confusion.

Some things, if you can see them openly, it won't matter if you say them. Even after you become strong, your past sufferings are just diamonds in your crown.

For example, I am crying now because I know in my heart that Li Xiaohan's family is no longer trapped by those two daggers of money today.

But it is absolutely impossible that Li Shengli's family only had a dozen ounces of cash that day—the family had money, and there was a steel scale outside the house. Who didn't know who was who? How many livestock are raised and what are the daily expenses? Everyone is pretty much the same, you can figure it out just by swiping.

Li Shengli's family, considered an average-sized family in Pingshan Village, had income from farming, weaving, and raising pigs. At that time, Li Cairong did not go to Zhu Xiucai to study. The tuition in ethnic studies was cheap, and there was no one at home. Get seriously ill.

Therefore, after so many years of accumulation, the branch family only gave Li Xiandong 5 tons of money to build a house, which is equivalent to the livestock family only giving Li Xiandong 2 tons. As soon as everyone heard this, they knew that this was a false report that they had money in their family and did not want to distribute it to Li Xiandong's family.

For a moment, everyone who learned the inside story of this family for the first time was a little shocked. After being shocked, they became slightly enlightened. They looked at Li Shengli and others with something wrong in their eyes.

Sure enough, if there is a stepmother, then there is a stepfather!

"That's not right." Li Xiaohan said distressedly, "Even if there is only so much money left when the family is divided, didn't your grandfather make any money when you cut the eucommia?"

Eucommia ulmoides was so crazy at that time. The bark of a tree cost almost 2 tons of money, not to mention that it became even more valuable after being speculated.

Everyone's eyes became more meaningful. Thirteen people in Pingshan Village bought cattle this time. Most of the people's money for buying cattle came from Eucommia ulmoides. Everyone knows how much money Eucommia can make.

The faces of Li Shengli and Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi behind him were already very embarrassed.

"Could it be that Brother Cairong's education is too expensive?" Li Xiaohan guessed, with a very worried face and a mocking look in his eyes.

The person who could come up with such an idea to pressure her father was probably not her grandfather who was so proud, but this cousin who had been hiding behind and profiting quietly without getting into any muddy water. "Go to Zhu Xiucai's place." The cost of studying is so high, so what will we do in the future?"

It would be best to spread the word to Zhu Xiucai, let Zhu Xiucai know that Li Cairong said behind his back that his charges were too high, and if Zhu Xiucai was annoyed, he could just kick Li Cairong away.

Apparently Li Cairong had also thought about this and had to stand up and explain, "It's okay. Master's tuition is not expensive and he is very good to me."

Where did the Bank of China money go?

Li Xiaohan and everyone's eyes were full of doubts.

Seeing that his son was being questioned by everyone, Li Xiannan stood up anxiously and said, "I have saved it all, but I didn't use it because I was afraid that there would be other places where the money would be needed."

"Oh. That's right. It's almost time for the Children's Examination. Brother Cai Rong must prepare money for this year. After all, if he goes to study at Zhu Xiucai's place, he won't be able to join the clan." Li Xiaohan suddenly realized.

Before Li Cairong and others could react, he continued, "Brother Cairong, you have to work hard. You see, in order for you to study, my grandfather is so old that he can't even afford to buy cattle, and he still has to do spring plowing." I personally went to the fields; even my father, the eldest son, was divided. Which family in this village divided the eldest son? It's all for you. We all know it. My father is filial. , whatever your grandfather says is whatever you say, but cousin Cai Rong, you must remember how much your grandfather has paid for you. Everyone says you are smart, are you sure this year?"

During the exams in my previous life, the school gave many warnings not to put too much pressure on the candidates. Before the college entrance examination, parents were cautious and did not dare to mention any grades.

Li Xiaohan decided to do the opposite and directly put pressure on Li Cairong.

Let you carry this moral baggage for the rest of your life.

"Yes, it is very expensive to study at Zhu Xiucai's place. Your grandfather is bitter about being separated from his eldest son. You must live up to your expectations, Cai Rong." The villagers persuaded one after another.

How difficult it is for a eldest son to save others by oneself. It is like cutting meat. The villagers all feel that this is a big effort and it is really not possible if they fail to pass the exam.

Even Li Shengli felt this way in a daze. If it wasn't for Cai Rong's study, why would he have separated his eldest son? His reputation was not good, and no one would do the work at home. When he got older, he would have to work in the fields himself. .

For a moment, the eyes looking at Li Cairong were filled with eagerness: So Cairong must pass the exam, at least he must pass the exam as a scholar, otherwise it will be a joke for him to split up the family.

Li Cairong's face turned green, and he thought about how during the Chinese New Year, he would start with his great-grandson, and Li Xiaohan would use Prince Ding to block him, which made him hold his breath, and he had to persuade his family members not to tell anyone.

Why on earth can't you think about it and want to provoke Li Xiaohan again?

The reason for dividing the family is because of oneself. This fact is nailed to the wall and cannot be taken off.

Li Xiaohan did not let Li Cairong go because of this, and continued, "Actually, apart from grandfather, brother Cairong, don't forget your third uncle's family. Although he doesn't speak, you can see that Sister Lanhua is weaving in the room all day long. To make money, the third aunt is working with a big belly, and the third uncle is supporting you to study without any complaints. Although he is a biological uncle, how many people can achieve this level? Brother Cai Rong, Third uncle is doing it all for you."

"No, Cai Rong, my uncle is doing it all because of you." Li Xianxi said loudly from the side, with excitement in his words.

Finally, someone saw his hard work, especially after the eldest brother was separated, how much more work he had to do.

He is not as stupid as his eldest brother, who worked so stupidly to his death, and ended up being randomly sent to different families. He wants to get a share of the pie.

Li Xiaohan almost couldn't help but laugh out loud, but fortunately he held it back with his strong determination, "No, brother Cairong, you have to respect your third uncle well from now on, this is your dear third uncle. "

It's just that I won a talent. As the old saying goes, a poor scholar can make a rich man, so Li Cairong will be able to support his grandparents, father and mother, and drag his third uncle's family with him to tow a plane to see if he can afford it.

Especially now, without the money his father had spent on collecting ginseng in the mountains in his previous life, the poor and humble couple were all miserable, not to mention they were only uncles and nephews. When the time comes, the beauty of fantasy will be compared with the cruel reality. Let's see if we can still maintain the illusion of loving each other and being a family.

Li Xianxi on the side only felt that no one had ever understood him as well as his niece today, and she talked about it in her heart. She even said modestly, "Oh, we are all uncles and nephews. Only by being filial can you remember me." ."

Li Cairong was so aggrieved that his face turned from green to white. He didn't know that the third uncle's family was a master who wanted ten points for every penny he gave.

At this time, another senior old man said earnestly, "Xiannan, your eldest brother has separated the family. From now on, you will be responsible for the eldest son. You have to stand up. Everyone in the family, old and young, I'm relying on you."

"Yes, it's not easy to be the eldest son. Setting up a family is a matter of great glory and great responsibility. Your brother did a good job back then, but you are still a little behind. You have to continue to learn."

"Yes, your father is not young anymore, so you should do more. The eldest son must do this. Look at your brother, he established the family immediately after the family was divided. This is the ability to be the head of the family. You can no longer rely on your brother, you have to stand up on your own."

"And Cai Rong, I'm not telling you, I'm still a bit obsessed with studying. I have to learn from Xin He. Xin He is very good."

"That's right, that's right. Believe and teach like this. While you're studying, you won't interfere with the family's business. My son said that Believe and Taught are good."

"No, there is nothing wrong with the teachings of our ancestors. Do it according to your ability and do it according to your ability!"

At this moment, Li Shengli, Li Xiannan, and Li Cairong's faces all turned pale, and they could only lower their heads and whisper in response.

Those who dare to use moral oppression should be prepared for backlash.

A sneer arose in Li Xiaohan's heart, and he gave the final blow, "Oh, it's a pity that my father separated the family and left."

The goal has been achieved. Li Xiaohan picked out his family and did not wade into this muddy water.

It's not easy to cry about my family's difficulties. It's not that I don't want to help, but that my ability is really limited. "I am weak and cannot do heavy work. My mother is weak. Doctor Zhang from Renhetang said that she was raped in the past. We are very short and need to make up for it. The whole family's work falls on my father. Fortunately, the family bought cattle, otherwise we wouldn't know how to do spring plowing."

"No, spring plowing can't be done without a few strong laborers. It's a bit difficult for one person." The villagers responded one after another.

After dividing the family so much money, landlord Zhang's land had to be plowed over again. This matter has spread to everyone in the village. Everyone thinks of Eucommia ulmoides, cotton combs, and what they are doing now. Niu, all of a sudden, said one after another, "Xiandong, don't worry, wait until I finish the land at home, I will go to your land to help you."

"Yes, yes, let's help, this work won't be delayed." Everyone said one after another.

Well, Li Xiandong is alone and has too much work to do. If anyone wants to borrow his cattle, that is really too much.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my grandfather's family. Except for the third uncle who was slightly excited, the rest of them withdrew from the crowd with dejected faces.

Li Xiaohan touched the cow: You saved it, are you happy?

Niu Duzi leaned lightly on Li Xiaohan's hand and mooed softly.

"Oh, you must be hungry. You are still growing, and you have walked such a long way. The calf is not all hungry." Someone said.

"Yes, yes, we are all hungry. There are not many grasses growing along the way. We have to go back and serve the cows." The anxious one said, and did not forget to say, "Xiandong, what do you want?" I'm really busy, so please speak up and we can find someone to help you no matter what."

"Yes, yes, that's the truth. There are so many cows today that you need to inform everyone, otherwise no one will be able to buy these cows."

Li Xiandong smiled naively. He was not really stupid. He slowly came back to the past exchange and just smiled and said, "Hey. Thank you everyone."

"Let's go home." Li Xiaohan gently took the cow's rope.

This notification was valuable because it allowed Qinggang Pegasus to come back to report the news, and he could quickly find out the relevant information about Niu Zheng. His family's status in the eyes of the villagers would be higher.

As long as you are strong enough, people around you will gradually surround you. Protecting the interests of the strong is to protect the interests of everyone.

It was nothing more than using the power of the clan to attack Li Cairong. My family was not just a random person at the beginning.

Reputation is so important in this world. As long as he, Li Cairong, has some brains and wants to go all the way in the imperial examination, he will not dare to provoke him easily.

Li Xiaohan smiled and patted the cow's head. Maybe the Laozhai family would have to avoid him in the future. After all, he had proven that he was not easy to mess with. It also eliminated a hidden danger in the future. Thank you, Big Eyes.

"Dad, let's call our cow Big Eyes. Look at its sharp eyes, as if it can understand people's words."

"No, these eyes are just beautiful, and they will be called big eyes from now on." Wang agreed with a smile.

"Sure. I was attracted by its cleverness from the beginning." Li Xiandong said happily.

The family of three returned home happily. Mrs. Wang had prepared all the food, just waiting to be heated up before eating.

"I'll take Big Eyes to the backyard first and prepare some fodder for it." Li Xiandong didn't feel that he was very hungry. He just wanted to stop starving the cow.

"Okay, go ahead." Wang returned, "I'll call you for dinner later."

Two-quarters of an hour later, the meal was ready, and the fresh meat bought in the city was put away, just waiting to be cooked in the evening.

After working hard all morning, using both hands and mouth, Li Xiaohan felt that it consumed a lot of physical and mental energy, and he ate very happily.

"Here, eat this steamed pork." Mrs. Wang gave Li Xiaohan a piece of steamed pork. Her daughter was really good.

Li's steamed pork has been improved many times, and now it uses three layers of carefully selected pork belly, deep-fried until golden brown, then cut into thin slices when ready to eat, placed underneath with dried vegetables and placed in a bowl to steam, with the sauce on top. I don't put much in it anymore. The meat is steamed until it's trembling. The fried skin is tough. The fat meat is rotten when you sip it. The lean meat is soaked in the oil and gas of the meat. The more you chew, the more fragrant it becomes. Everyone in the Li family likes it.

Especially Li Xiaohan, who is growing up, can only cook half a bowl of food for one person.

"Well, mom, you guys should eat too." Li Xiaohan said.

Both Wang and Li Xiandong are hard-working people who are not good at words. After decades of experience, their personalities have become like this. But they are not stupid, they think clearly in their hearts, especially after the separation, many things become clearer.

Speaking of which, we should be grateful for the separation, which was a rebirth from the ashes.

After finishing the meal, Li Xiandong put down his bowl and chopsticks, "I'm going to build a cowshed for Big Eyes. It's still cold here, so I have to block the wind. Don't let Big Eyes suffer."

I am busy with my own home work, and my whole body is filled with energy and impetus.

"Well, dad, you go ahead." Li Xiaohan said, "I'm going to pick out the eucommia and pepper seeds. The selected seeds are ready for soaking and breeding in large quantities."

"Well, I'll take out your thin clothes first and then help you. I just need to finish trimming them." Mrs. Wang said as she put away the dishes and chopsticks. "You grow up fast, and the clothes from previous years no longer fit you. During spring plowing, There's no time left, so prepare in advance."

"No hurry, mother, take your time." Li Xiaohan said.

"I know." Mrs. Wang said, but she didn't agree in her heart. Her daughter was so smart and could make money, so how could she wear shabby clothes.

Such a delicate flower-like girl should dress beautifully.

Everyone in the family is busy going about their business without mentioning it.

February 28th, the vernal equinox, the weather has completely warmed up, the spring breeze is blowing, and everything is growing.

Li Xiaohan's eucommia seeds have been soaked in slightly warm water for three days, and the water has been changed once a day. Now the seeds have swelled visibly to the naked eye.

At this moment, Li Xiaohan was standing by the well platform of his home, pouring out the water in the wooden tray soaked with Eucommia seeds, and then explained to the tribesmen surrounding him, "Look, everyone, this Eucommia When the seeds are soaked and swollen to this extent, they have absorbed enough water and are about to burst out."

The surrounding villagers all poked their heads over to take a look, their eyes wishing they could see the state of Eucommia species engraved in their eyes.

There was no way. They, old farmers, tried it last autumn and winter. According to the old method, the germination rate of Eucommia seeds was too low. Even if they sprouted, the seedlings were weak. After one winter, they were all wiped out.

Only Li Xiaohan's Eucommia species survived this winter and is now growing strongly in the vegetable patch in the backyard. They looked over the straw and had to accept it.

Therefore, everyone is watching it carefully at this moment. Some people also reflect and say, "No wonder, I only soaked for one night last year, so I didn't absorb enough water."

"I'm just the opposite of you. I see that these seeds don't absorb water. I've soaked them for a long time, so I guess they're rotten inside." Another person added with a wry smile.

Because Eucommia seeds contain Eucommia gum, it is indeed difficult to master the soaking time. Li Xiaohan handed everyone a small handful of seeds, "Everyone, please pass it around and take a look. I'll give it a try in three days." I told you before that you need to soak the seeds in water and change the water once a day. If the seeds in your home are in this state, they should be fine."

"Hey, hey, my family is almost ready. I'm watching it all the time." A tribesman who received the seeds said in surprise.

"Hey, show me that kind of thing."

The person who had received the seeds before handed it to others, spread out a handful of seeds, and everyone looked at it again, and finally passed it back to Li Xiaohan. Li Xiaohan did not follow the original one. The seeds are mixed together, and so many people's hands have passed by, maybe there are bacteria.

"Everyone, look at it. The seed has reached this level. Everyone, rub it gently. It must be gentle to destroy the seed coat. But don't use too much force. It will be easily damaged if you use force. The embryo has been planted." Li Xiaohan said as he rubbed out a seed.

Unexpectedly, after saying these words, there was gradually no sound in the crowd, and the atmosphere gradually solidified and became unusual.

"What's wrong?" Li Xiaohan asked with a frown.

After a pause, someone in the crowd said in a harsh voice, "Xiaohan, we all know what you said about soaking, but this seed, if you rub this seed, it will die. It can't sprout any more. It's never been like this before."

They have grown wheat, rice, beans, and various fruits and vegetables, but they have never had to destroy the seed skin before sowing.

In the past, seeds must be protected by a shell. A damaged seed is an injured and dead seed and cannot survive.

However, Li Xiaohan did plant Eucommia ulmoides seedlings again.

The three views of the clan members were strongly impacted. For a time, the things passed down by their ancestors conflicted with Li Xiaohan's words, and they had no idea what they had heard. The seeds were sown, and there was no room for regret. It was really difficult for everyone to make a decision.

Li Xiaohan paused for a moment. Indeed, other seeds will be damaged if the seed coat is damaged, but Eucommia ulmoides is different. The seed skin of Eucommia contains a large amount of colloid. This colloid is not destroyed, and some seed embryos that are not strong enough cannot be destroyed. If it is stretched out, it can only die inside.

Of course, the laws of nature dictate the survival of the fittest, and the healthiest and strongest seeds will naturally break through these limitations and germinate successfully.

However, the significance of modern artificial planting is to greatly increase the germination rate of seeds through artificial intervention and provide a suitable environment so that originally rare plants can grow in large quantities to meet human needs. need.

Li Xiaohan coughed and tried his best to explain in language that the tribesmen could understand, "Everyone knows that this Eucommia tree was originally called the false silkworm tree because there is a layer of silk-like silk in its bark. In fact, there is more of this layer of silk in the seed. Just like a silkworm chrysalis, this layer of silk is densely surrounded and protects the seed when it does not germinate. But now, this layer of silk restricts the seed. of germination, seeds that are not strong enough will not come out."

"So, when we destroy this layer of silk by hand, we are helping the seeds so that more seeds can germinate and grow up. This truth, I say this, everyone can understand it. ?"

Li Xiaohan slowly described it as carefully as possible while observing everyone's expressions.

Sure enough, after this explanation, everyone's confusion gradually softened, but they were still not completely convinced.

This is understandable. After all, once the accumulation of countless predecessors and decades of practice are overturned in this way, there must be a process.

At this moment, the door of the Li family was suddenly opened, and Li Manshan ran over panting, shouting, "Xiaohan, Xiaohan, your pepper seeds, the first batch of pepper seeds you planted, have sprouted." ."

The first batch of pepper seeds were planted in the ten acres of dry land bought from Landlord Zhang's son on the day of the Waking of Insects. It's right next door to Li Manshan's wheat field.

This result came too timely.

Li Xiaohan cheered inwardly and clapped his hands, "Come, let's go see the pepper seedlings I cultivated."

=== Chapter === 71

Hearing that the peppers had sprouted, everyone who had been silent just now became excited. Li Xiaohan waved his hand and a group of people followed Li Xiaohan and walked quickly towards the pepper field.

I met villagers on the road, squatting at the door to repair their hoes. Seeing a large group of them walking in a hurry, I couldn't help but curiously asked: "What's going on, where are you rushing to?"

"The pepper seedlings bred by Xiaohan have grown. We are rushing to have a look." someone in the crowd replied loudly.

"Really? Oh my God, I want to see it too."

This man didn't even care about the hoe and just threw it back at the door of his house. Anyway, he was not in a hurry to repair the hoe. But this pepper was a great new wonder. Who would have thought that this pepper from the Western Regions could actually be used? was planted. Seeing it a moment later is a sin.

In this way, a group of people passed by, gradually attracting more people, and the crowd became larger and larger. By the time they left the village, almost one-third of the villagers had followed.

When we arrived at the pepper field, there were already several people surrounding the pepper seedlings. However, the pepper seedlings were very valuable, so the tribesmen did not dare to move around. At this moment, Li Xiaohan and a group of people were busy. He came over in a hurry, stood up and shouted, "Xiaohan is here, people around get out of the way. Xiaohan, come and see, the pepper seedlings have sprouted."

"Hey, let me take a look." Li Xiaohan squatted down and saw that under a shallow layer of straw in the raised seedbed with a sunken center in the middle, he could vaguely see some goose-yellow and tender green seedlings underneath.

Li Xiaohan stretched out his hand and gently opened the straw. The onlookers couldn't help but hold their breath. Some people couldn't help but say, "Be gentle, don't touch the seedlings."

Li Xiaohan is naturally very light. Besides, he paid attention when he first built the seedbed. There are a few centimeters of space under the straw for the seedlings to grow.

As Li Xiaohan opened the straw, the pepper seedlings hidden underneath were revealed, with a light yellow-white stem and one or two bright yellow leaves with a hint of green growing out of the head. The leaves are long and slender, stretching quietly in the spring sunshine.

Li Xiaohan's heart was full of joy, the first step was completed.

"So these are pepper seedlings!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

"Yes, I really planted those pepper seedlings." someone said afterward.

How miraculous, these sweet peppers from the Western Regions were grown right under their noses. Speaking of which, they themselves couldn't believe it.

"Xiaohan." At this moment, Li Xiandong squatted beside Li Xiaohan and shouted in a trembling voice.

"Dad, we have grown it." Li Xiaohan looked at her father and said with a smile, it's not easy. From now on, they will no longer be restricted by the price of pepper, and plans related to pepper can be launched.

"Yes, it's been planted." Li Xiandong nodded heavily. Ten acres of land are all ready to plant these pepper seedlings. It doesn't mean that no one has privately advised Li Xiandong to be more prudent. At least half of it must be planted with soybeans. This way If you fail to grow peppers, you can still get a small harvest. But Li Xiandong withstood them all.

"Dad, we lifted up this straw. The seedlings have sprouted. When the weather gets warm, we don't need this straw anymore. Let the sun dry it out." Li Xiaohan stood up and said.

"Hey, everyone lend a hand and lift all the straw. Be careful not to hurt the seedlings." Someone around them responded. They are all here for this new thing. They are waiting for Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan to lift the straw. Finished, how long will it take?

After lifting it to a certain place, someone asked aloud, "Xiaohan, these seeds were sown from behind. They have just grown. Do you want to lift them too?"

Li Xiaohan's seedlings were indeed sown in two batches. The earliest batch was covered with straw on the day of the Waking of Insects, fearing that the weather would still be cold and affecting the emergence of the seedlings, and the subsequent batches were also covered.

"It's all lifted. Let the seedlings get some sunshine so they can grow strong easily." Now that it's spring and the weather is nice, you don't need this straw.

"Hey, then it's all over."

Everyone worked together, and in just a quarter of an hour, the straw covering the seedbed was lifted. On the seedbed, the thin and young pepper seedlings stretched in the spring sunshine, gently blowing in the breeze. Trembling slightly.

Although the harvest has not yet arrived, I can feel the joy of success in advance.

Everyone stared at the seedling and discussed randomly about "it looks like a vegetable" and "which vegetable it looks like." After about a quarter of an hour, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "Xiaohan, let's go back and continue. Tell me how to plant Eucommia ulmoides."

"Yes, we just mentioned that the skin should be rubbed into pieces. I haven't seen it clearly yet. Xiaohan, let's go back." Someone else said.

"Have you not finished talking yet? What does the seed coat break? Can the seed coat be broken by rubbing?" This is said by someone who has not watched the breeding of Eucommia ulmoides. After all, there's no need for everyone to go. Li Xiandong's house can't fit in, so there's only one representative from each household.

"Yes, the seed coat of Eucommia ulmoides needs to be rubbed off. It's amazing. We were just learning it, and people all over the mountain came to say that the pepper seedlings had emerged, so we came over to take a look."

"That... is really miraculous. But Xiaohan has even grown peppers. Maybe this is the word for Eucommia ulmoides."

"No. We still don't know enough."

"Okay, let's go back." Li Xiaohan stood up and said, and asked them to continue talking. She didn't know where they were going to go. It took her several days to recover from the straightforward praises on the way back from buying cattle.

"Then the pepper seedlings are just left here like this? Don't you need to keep them for a while?" someone said worriedly.

"It's okay, the seedlings have just emerged. Why did you steal them? I don't know what to do after you steal them. If you are worried, just help me take a look at them when patrolling the fields." Li Xiaohan said.

"Sure, no problem. This thing is very special. Even if it is stolen, thieves would not dare to plant it. It is just to prevent someone from causing damage. If you dare to cause damage in the fields of our Li family, please do not let his My legs are broken." Someone in the crowd shouted.

"Yep."

So everyone felt relieved, and another group of people cheered from the field back to Li Xiandong's house.

This time, everyone no longer had any doubts about what Li Xiaohan said about breaking the skin of Eucommia ulmoides. They all agreed that Li Xiaohan was born with a good head for farming and was smart and spiritual. This Eucommia ulmoides is something they have in their own mountains and there will never be any problems. Besides, the seedlings I tried to plant before autumn were not all successful. I thought too much before.

The people who were impressed were most concerned about how to control this speed, that is, how to only break the seed coat without damaging the seed embryo inside. They personally tested it until Don't worry until you have no more doubts.

"For this Eucommia ulmoides, when transplanted to mountainous areas, each tree needs to be spaced about nine feet apart. One acre of land can grow Eucommia eucommia in its early 100s. During breeding, it takes about half a foot of seed. After conversion, that is one acre of land. Eucommia ulmoides needs a seedbed of five centimeters. It should be noted that the seedlings are best transplanted to the forestland next spring." Li Xiaohan explained, "But this is the most ideal situation. We still grow various fruits in the mountains. Trees, as well as pine and eucalyptus trees, everyone should calculate how many they can plant, and then breed them according to their needs."

After saying this, everyone began to discuss loudly, "Oh, I have planted a lot of fruit trees in the mountainous area. Although there are more than three acres of mountainous land, I estimate that I can plant up to fifty trees. That's all. , I just need to spare two cents of land for breeding."

"Your family is a hard-working person, so you have planted them all. My family used to plant a lot of pine trees. I'm thinking of cutting them down and planting a hundred of them. Anyway, pine trees can be used to smoke bacon and Eucommia ulmoides. Pine trees can be used to make furniture, and this tree can also be sold for money. Even if the price is reduced, it is still more cost-effective than pine trees."

The villagers have already discussed the price reduction of Eucommia ulmoides. If there are too many of these products, the price will definitely have to be reduced. It just depends on how much.

"Oh, your family is very smart, that's why!" Someone in the crowd echoed, "I'm still worried about it. My house also has a lot of pine and camphor trees, so I've made some space for it, but I My family doesn't have as much land as yours, so I can just plant fifty trees."

"Oh, I have so many fruit trees, I really can't bear to part with them."

"That's the truth, the fruit can be eaten."

Everyone was talking about it, one said how many trees he planned to plant, and the other said how many trees he planned to plant, but the number was between a few dozen and a hundred.

Those who said they would plant a hundred trees are still in the minority. After all, the villagers' understanding of Eucommia now is to make medicinal materials, and it will grow for ten years. You don't know what will happen in ten years. If the price is reduced extremely cheap, then It can only be used as wood.

But the wood can also be used by future generations, so it's not a loss no matter what.

When everyone was almost settled, Li Xiaohan said, "Then let's go sow seeds. Dad, are our seedling fields ready?"

Li Xiandong was not with Li Xiaohan just now, but went to prepare the seedbed with Wang in advance. When he heard Li Xiaohan ask him, he hurriedly said, "Everything is ready."

Everyone then moved to the seedling field together. When they saw the seedling field prepared by Li Xiandong, everyone was shocked. "Xiandong, Xiaohan, how much are you planning to plant? This must be five percent of the seedling field. That's it." Fifty acres of mountainous land! How can your family have so much mountainous land?"

Li Xiandong's family, based on population, was only allocated one acre of mountain land.

Li Xiaohan explained, "Last time, a noble man came to my house and took a fancy to my secret recipe for goat's milk drink. He gave us a sum of money, and we all used it to buy mountain land."

"Why did we buy all the mountainous land? Only paddy fields and dry fields can grow serious food." Some people in the crowd lamented.

"It's not that dry land and paddy fields are hard to buy. We can only buy mountainous land." Li Xiaohan was not annoyed. People's understanding at that time was like this. Nothing is more important than feeding the stomach. "Let's talk about me." We have a small family and the mountains are easy to take care of. It's time to plant these Eucommia seedlings in the mountains and wait for the harvest in ten years."

No, three-year-old Eucommia saplings can already be harvested for harvesting branches and leaves to make Eucommia gum. There is no need to wait ten years.

However, this Eucommia gum cannot be exposed until he is unable to protect it, so Li Xiaohan cannot persuade the villagers to plant Eucommia trees.

"This is the reason." But it's a pity that the villagers still sighed. There are only a few people, so it's still difficult. Even planting a piece of land is difficult.

Some people think that if there are not enough people, they can hire people, but Li Xiaohan seems to be really generous. How expensive is the pepper wine now? Even the Qing Gang is on the line. It is also planned to plant ten acres of peppers and fifty acres of Eucommia eucommia forest.

You can spend it and you can make it, you can make it and you can spend it!

When Li Xiaohan saw that everyone was silent, he began to sow the seeds of Eucommia ulmoides. He buried the seeds in a hole half a foot long, covered them with soil, and watered them all in one go. When everyone saw how many trees Li Xiaohan had planted, they understood how to plant them.

If there is an advantage to free teaching, it is free labor. Dozens of representatives from each household who came to learn Eucommia dispersed into the seedling field, and in about an hour, they helped sow all the Eucommia seeds in Li Xiaohan's family.

After planting this seed, everyone was somewhat excited. Anyway, this is another skill I have learned. From now on, people from the Li clan in Pingshan Village will even grow Eucommia ulmoides.

"Hey, how can we be so capable?" someone said.

"You can fart, you learned it step by step from Xiaohan." The person next to him broke the news.

"Then we've learned something." The blusterer still doesn't change.

Li Xiaohan heard it funny, but everyone still helped and shouted loudly, "This Eucommia seed will be planted like this. Everyone, please come to my house for dinner. Thank you for your help today."

"Xiaohan, how can it be that we come to your house for dinner? You have to come to our house for dinner." Someone in the crowd said steadily, "When we finish the spring plowing, when we arrive Come to our house for dinner sometime. Let's go."

"You can eat at our house first, and then we can eat at your uncles' houses later."

"We don't have the face to teach people craftsmanship and provide food for them. Xiaohan, let's go. Remember to come to our house for dinner." After that, Zhen patted his butt and left.

"Let's go, let's go." The rest of the people responded one after another, fearing that Li Xiaohan would invite him to dinner again, so they left quickly.

After a while, only Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong were left, "Dad, let's go home too."

"Yeah." Li Xiandong finished packing his things and stood up.

"Dad, I'm done with things here, how are you doing over there?" Li Xiaohan asked as he walked.

"The paddy fields have been plowed. We will soak the rice seeds tonight, and we will plant seedlings early the day after tomorrow." The Li family's paddy fields are the 2 acres and 4 cents of paddy fields that were originally divided.

Li Xiandong and Mr. Wang spent this time in the fields, plowing and leveling the ground, and preparing seedbeds. Mr. Wang helped him, while Li Xiaohan was busy with Eucommia ulmoides and pepper planting, and could only go out to help occasionally. A favor.

"Thank you for your big eyes, otherwise the three of us would be really busy." Li Xiaohan sighed. With his big eyes, they were busy all day long and could barely hold on. It would be unimaginable without big eyes.

"I have to give Big Eyes something good to eat when I get back, but I'm exhausted." Li Xiandong said heartbrokenly.

It needs to be replenished, both humans and cows must be replenished, otherwise they will not be able to hold on.

Since the breeding time for Eucommia ulmoides was shorter than expected, this afternoon was free. Li Xiaohan went to the market at the entrance of the village and bought two pig feet, a piece of frozen tofu, and brought back a jar of vinegar. Half a bag of brown sugar, plus a basket of eggs.

Spring plowing is busy, so we definitely don't have time to cook as carefully as before, but we can't eat poorly, so it's best to make something that can last for a long time. Wang's braised food can't be eaten, so let's make pig's trotters and ginger. Although they have been eating it all winter, Li Xiandong and Wang are reluctant to eat it, and they are still not tired of it.

Besides, the water is still cold in this spring day, so it's good to go into the water from time to time and eat some ginger to ward off the cold.

"Why did you come back from buying pig's feet again? Do you want to eat them?" Wang asked.

"I'm busy with spring plowing and need to eat something delicious, but I don't have time, so let's make pig's feet and ginger. I'll make it today. You can eat it whenever you want. Just heat it up and take a bowl. It has meat and eggs. ." Li Xiaohan explained.

"That's right." Mrs. Wang nodded in agreement, and the two mothers and daughters began to cook the pig's feet.

By noon, the strong aroma of pig's feet and ginger wafted from the Li family again, which was sweet and spicy, especially tempting.

"Dad, it's time to eat." Li Xiaohan called to the backyard, where Li Xiandong was feeding Big Eyes.

After a while, Li Xiandong came back from the backyard. It was rare that the family did not rush to have lunch, but after lunch, they had to go to the ground again. The ten acres of pepper land have not yet been plowed, and there is no free time for spring plowing.

March 15th is the Qingming Festival, and it is appropriate to worship ancestors.

At this time, rice breeding has been completed, and plowing the fields is also proceeding in an orderly manner. It is a rare time to take some time off before sowing and pay homage to ancestors.

Early in the morning, Wang bought pork, steamed rice, and killed a chicken, preparing to pay homage to Li Xiaohan's grandmother Luo Shi. After the family separation, life got better and better, but it was not just through the enlightenment of Li Xiaohan in front of his grandmother's grave.

Before the hour passed, the Wang family was preparing to set off. Suddenly, three gongs sounded, "Qiang, Qiang, Qiang", and all three members of the Li family stopped.

"Did the gong sound just now?" Li Xiaohan asked.

As soon as he finished speaking, there were three more "Qiang, Qiang, Qiang" sounds.

"That's right. Last time I went to report to the clan leader to buy cattle, it was the same sound." Wang said.

"We have to go to the ancestral hall. Hurry." Li Xiandong said. If the clan leader rings the gong, something big will happen.

At this time, the gong sounded again, and the clan leader was obviously very anxious.

Li Xiandong's family hurried to the ancestral hall. They met other tribesmen on the road. Everyone was rushing on in a hurry. Someone who didn't know what was going on asked, "Why is the gong ringing again? What's the matter?" Dong, did you buy another cow?"

"I haven't heard of it. I don't know either." Li Xiandong explained as he hurried forward.

"What's that?"

"Don't worry about it. You'll find out when you get to the ancestral hall. The clan leader is urging me."

When Li Xiandong and the others arrived at the ancestral hall, it was already crowded with people. After all, Li Xiandong's house was far away.

After half a cup of tea, You Nazhi finally arrived and was given a fierce look by the clan leader.

"Is everyone here?"

Everyone looked to their left, then to their left, and said, "It's all here."

When the patriarch heard the answer, he took out a piece of red paper from his arms, his hands trembling slightly, and then read loudly: "In the spring of the 24th year of Taihe, the list of those who passed the county examination is Li Deyou, Li Daishui, Li Tiancai, Li Jialin, Li Caishun is ordered to take the imperial examination in April."

The entire ancestral hall was filled with the trembling voice of the patriarch. After the patriarch stopped, there was only silence in the room.

Ah, the county examination was held at the end of February, Li Xiaohan remembered. He was busy breeding at the time and didn't pay much attention to this matter.

Now this is the time when the county examination results are out. Searching past memories, it seems that a good number of people passed.

But, what, you didn't react at all?

After a while, "Ah, it's my family who brings water. Bring water, bring water, you passed the county exam. Dad, dad is so happy." The water-carrying dad was really happy after saying this, and then hugged his son He turned his son around twice, and two tears flashed from the corners of his eyes.

This cheer finally brought back everyone's attention, and the quiet ancestral hall began to boil with excitement.

Li Xiaohan looked around and saw a few parents holding their children or touching their children's heads with proud faces, while the onlookers congratulated them with envy.

Among them, the eldest one is Li Deyou. The third uncle and his family are all happy, but Li De seems to be unable to recover for a moment, "Why did I win? I didn't expect it. I thought Just take the test casually like in previous years."

"What are you talking about? I didn't hear your name at the front. Give me a good test next time. At least you will be a boy." Third uncle scolded. His grandson is not very young, only eighteen, and his family is not short of money for the exam.

"Ah, that's a bit difficult." Li Deyou touched his head.

The third uncle hit him with the cane, but then gently dropped it, "If it's difficult, you have to work harder!"

Li Xiaohan turned his head with a smile and glanced at the cheering crowd, only to see that the Laozhai family was incompatible with the atmosphere. From Li Shengli to Li Cairong, they had expressions of disbelief and frustration.

"Patriarch, patriarch, doesn't my family have more talents?" Li Xiannan asked with a white face and trembling lips. Why is there no Cai Rong from his family? His Cai Rong has always been very good at studying.

"The list I got from the village chief didn't include Cai Rong's name." The clan leader sighed. At that time, we separated the family just for the sake of talent.

"Is it... is it because my family, Cai Rong, is studying at Zhu Xiucai's place and is not with you all?"

"What I got was the full name list. I just copied out the names of the people in our clan." The clan leader said unbearably.

As the patriarch's words fell, the last hope of the Laozhai family was lost. Li Shengli's face turned gloomy, and Li Cairong seemed to be crumbling.

However, everyone's sorrows and joys were different. At this time, someone shouted loudly, "Chief, open an ancestral hall and worship your ancestors."

"Yes, yes, opening an ancestral hall to worship our ancestors is such a big happy event, we have to tell our ancestors."

"Yes, it has been seven or eight years. We only won the letter and one child. In previous years, there were one or two people who tried it and they were all lucky."

"Last year, I didn't pass any of the county exams. I thought it would be the same this year. I didn't expect that there were five, a whole five."

"Yes, it must be that Xinhe has taught them well. I heard from my family, Dai Shui, that Xinhe has been giving them small classes every day recently, and they are doing some kind of assault training. Let Xinhe stand in front."

"Yes, let Xinhe stand in the front. Patriarch, Xinhe is the hero of our clan. Let Xinhe lead them to the front during the ancestor worship."

Li Xinhe and Patriarch Li, who were standing next to the patriarch, turned their heads to Li Xiaohan at the same time.

Li Xiaohan understood what the patriarch and Li Xinhe meant, smiled and shook his head.

Since results can be produced this year, it means that the information is useful, so we should keep it tighter. It was the county examination. Before becoming a scholar, there were two government examinations and the academy examination. Li Xinhe had the status of a boy student and had to pass the examination in the academy. He would be a scholar if he could win.

Besides, Li Xiaohan didn't think he had much credit. He definitely had some, but when it came to studying, the most important thing was to look at the individual. In terms of credit, Li Xinhe's good teaching and the solid learning of his tribe were the foundation.

Seeing Li Xiaohan shaking his head, Patriarch Li and Li Xinhe understood what Li Xiaohan meant. Indeed, it was not appropriate to make it public now.

"Okay, today we will open the ancestral hall to worship our ancestors. We will first worship our ancestors and then go up the mountain. Let our ancestors work together to protect our next performance." The clan leader announced loudly.

The crowd began to get excited, and each family began to be busy. Chief Li prepared the ceremony and invited the ancestors to place their memorial tablets. Every family goes home to prepare sacrifices.

But before that, Patriarch Li took the five primary school students and their parents to a room next to the ancestral hall. Li Xinhe was guarding outside, and then began to whisper, "Originally, this matter should be kept secret, but I think, at least some of you, you have to be aware of it. Those volumes of previous years of Xinhe assault training were collected by Xiaohan from the capital and Jiangnan with a huge favor. This favor is too big. You have to remember."

The five parents and primary school students stared wide-eyed, but Li Deyou murmured, "I didn't expect that my niece Xiaohan is so capable."

Li Deyou's father slapped his son's head hard and whispered, "Chief, we know. We will never forget it."

"Well, regarding this matter, don't let your children participate in the spring plowing. Let Xinhe teach them properly this month. And don't tell it. If we tell it, we will have no chance."

"Okay, patriarch, I understand." Everyone nodded, but Li Deyou's father hesitated and said, "Clan leader, I have to tell my father that Deyou's grandfather is his."

"Third uncle already knew."

"Oh, that will work."

When everyone went out and saw Li Xinhe guarding the door, they all said, "Xinhe, my boy is entrusted to you. If you don't obey me, you will be beaten."

Li Xinhe's mouth was slightly embarrassed, "I understand."

Li Xiaohan and Wang had already gone home to prepare sacrifices, so naturally they didn't know about this.

Unexpectedly, the door was knocked suddenly. Li Xiandong was carrying a load and preparing to go out. Li Xiaohan quickly ran to open the door.

Opening the door, I saw five freshly baked elementary school students who had just passed the county examination. They were out of breath from running. They sneaked in, locked the door, and then bowed together and said, "Xiaohan Aunt/Sister Xiaohan/Niece Xiaohan, thank you."

Then he opened the door and ran away. Only Li Deyou bowed and, relying on his age and familiarity with Li Xiaohan, touched Li Xiaohan's head and whispered, "I'll buy you a headband." ."

Then he waved his hands and walked away gracefully.

"What?" Li Xiaohan muttered and touched his head to see that it was not messed up.

But he didn't see himself showing a bright smile.

=== Chapter === 72

The Li family held an extremely grand and solemn ancestor worship ceremony during the Qingming Festival. Everyone was full of respect and hope. They believed that their ancestors were protecting the Li family. Otherwise, how would they live this year? , everyone's life has improved more or less.

Therefore, I have become more pious towards my ancestors. Of course, I sincerely hope that my ancestors will continue to bless me, especially if the descendants chosen in the end are myself.

Li Shengli also believed this, especially after he heard that Li Xiandong cried in front of the grave of his deceased first wife Luo Shi, and he felt that this was the first wife protecting his son's family, and he could not help but punish his step-brother's bloodline.

Li Shengli felt quite scared and guilty, so after the Qingming Festival, before the main event of spring plowing came, Li Shengli fell ill.

"Dad, you can look after my grandfather for us. Mom is pregnant now, so she can't visit the patient in case she gets infected. Mom and I will go to work in the fields together." Li Xiaohan said, she I just don't like going to the old house, and I don't like the awkward and fighting atmosphere. The old house looks peaceful on the surface, but in fact it's just a cockfighting ring.

"Sure." Li Xiandong smiled. His wife and daughter just didn't want to go to the old house. If they don't go, they won't go. This is his father, not their father, so he can go. , "Bring me two more packets of icing sugar, I won't use this bacon anymore."

Li Xiaohan frowned, took out two packets of frosting from the cupboard, and couldn't help but say, "Dad, eating too much sugar is really bad."

"It's okay. Your grandfather just felt a bitter taste in his mouth when he was sick and liked to eat something sweet." Li Xiandong explained.

Forget it, it's really hard to persuade a patient not to let him eat a few bites of what he likes, but "Dad, you don't like it too, do you?" This taste may sometimes be inherited.

"No, I like to eat meat the most. I also like to eat sweets. It's okay if I can't eat them." Li Xiandong smiled and showed his white teeth. He didn't know what he enjoyed if he was not like his father. .

After preparing the things, Li Xiandong carried the basket to the old house, while Li Xiaohan and Wang carried hoes to prepare the land. Li Xiandong has already put water on the two acres of rice fields. When the water is cold in spring, Li Xiandong doesn't let Wang and Li Xiaohan go to the paddy fields much. Now he is plowing the ten acres of pepper fields.

The big eyes plowed through the raked land, and the soil had been turned over. What they needed to do now was to break up the large clods of soil and level them.

The mother and daughter were busy for almost an hour before Li Xiandong arrived late. This was much longer than Li Xiaohan expected.

"Dad, grandpa is seriously ill?" Li Xiaohan asked. Yesterday it seemed that he was just a little bit hit, but he was in good health.

Could it be that her cousin's failure to pass the examination as a scholar really hit his grandfather so hard that he knocked down a healthy man in one fell swoop?

However, according to the original book, her cousin Li Cairong also helped her father observe three years of filial piety and gained a good reputation before he took the imperial examination and became a scholar all at once.

Therefore, could it be that her cousin was not yet at the level, but suddenly so many people passed the first level this year, which greatly stimulated her grandfather Li Shengli.

After much deliberation, this is the only logical thing to do.

"Well, the illness is probably a bit serious. I have already asked the doctor to take medicine." Li Xiandong explained.

This doctor is a doctor from a nearby village. In the past, people in Pingshan Village went to this doctor for medical treatment.

"Then what did your grandfather tell you when you stayed in the old house for so long?" Li Xiaohan continued to ask, lest her father escape when her grandfather caught her father and said he was helping the old house happen again.

What did his father say?

Li Xiandong was distracted and recalled what Li Shengli said.

It seemed that an illness really knocked Li Shengli down. Now Li Shengli actually held his hand and said he was sorry for having wronged him all these years. He said that he was his favorite eldest son. Now I regret the separation.

He also talked about the past when he was a child, saying that when he was a child, he was smart and clever, and he was good at reading. He also kept saying that he would pass the examination and be a scholar to make his father happy. Thinking about it now, it really delayed him.

His father regretted it. He finally saw him and acknowledged him.

This was once what Li Xiandong wanted to pursue and what he worked hard to get. However, when all this finally came, Li Xiandong was not as happy and excited as he had imagined.

What Li Xiandong was once willing to give everything for was now difficult to make waves in his heart.

What is late, what is not obtained at that time, is not wanted. Now he has a wife and daughter, a harmonious life, and just wants to live a good life.

"It's nothing. Your grandfather is a little confused because of his illness. He keeps telling me about his childhood." Li Xiandong smiled honestly, "I'm over thirty now, so I've already passed away."

Remember Dafa. Li Xiaohan snickered in his heart, but his father didn't seem to accept this trick.

"No, sick people like to talk nonsense. Don't take it seriously. I heard people in the village gossiping about it. Some people even said they could see ghosts when they were sick." Li Xiaohan said seriously. Said, "You still have to live your life well now and look forward."

"No." Li Xiandong nodded, put a plow rope on his big eyes, and walked to the field next to him. There were several acres of land next to him. He had to plow it again, and then rake it again.

"Xiaohan, when will your pepper seedlings be transplanted?" Li Guiqian and Mrs. Zhao passed by carrying a rake and asked loudly, "I see that your pepper seedlings have grown quite tall."

Less than half a month later, Li Xiaohan's pepper seedlings were almost as long as a finger, and about four leaves had grown. It's just that the villagers are new and always pay attention to the situation of the pepper seedlings, and then ask a few questions.

"Uncle Gui, Uncle Zhao, you still have half a month to wait until they grow to the height of a palm." Li Xiaohan responded loudly, "We will transplant the seedlings after our family has finished planting them in the two acres of paddy fields next to the village. Pepper seedlings."

"Oh, you're too busy, so just speak out if you need it."

"It's okay. There are cows. Work slowly." Li Xiaohan said.

Nowadays, no one in this village is busy. All the men and women, old and young, are in the fields. Her family has two acres of paddy field, but the quantity is not a big deal. Although her family is small, she does have cattle.

For families without oxen, one person had to pull the plow with a rope in front. The person was used as an ox, and another person had to hold the plow behind. The two of them took turns, which was slow and tiring.

But even if you have a plow, it's good. For people who are really suffering, they don't even have a layer of iron on the tip of the plow. They really rely on human power to break the soil, and their shoulders and arms are bruised and bloody. At this point, we still have to grit our teeth and work hard. The farming season is only for a while. If it is delayed, the whole family will starve to death.

The more they understand and compare, the more difficult it becomes for Li Xiaohan.

Sure enough, when Li Guiqian heard that there was a cow, he nodded in agreement. A cow can carry four or five people. He looked at the pepper seedlings again and said, "Then let's go."

"Hey." Li Xiaohan raised his head and said.

Li Guiqian left with peace of mind. Their family was much better now that they had cows. In the past, men and women worked hard, but now that they have cows, they can finally take a breather. So they turned around and took a look at the situation of Li Xiandong's house.

Mrs. Zhao followed Li Guiqian while walking forward, but she always felt something was wrong and looked back frequently as she walked.

"What do you keep looking back at?" Li Guiqian asked doubtfully.

"I always feel that something is wrong..." Zhao turned around and said.

"What's wrong? It's Xiandong's family of three." Li Guiqian turned around and said. He saw Li Xiandong plowing the land, and Wang and Li Xiaohan squatting to prepare the land. It was probably that the surrounding area had been finished. Wang stood up Move over.

"They're all..." Before the word "normal" came out of her mouth, she heard Mrs. Zhao exclaim, "Ah!"

Even the rake fell away.

"Who, the ground must be soft, otherwise you will break this rake." Li Guiqian quickly picked up the iron rake and looked at it carefully, but Mrs. Zhao ignored him at all and ran away with her legs. He ran towards Wang's place.

Li Xiaohan saw Ms. Zhao running past him like a gust of wind, walked to Ms. Wang, took Ms. Wang's hand, and asked tremblingly, "You... are you pregnant?"

Mrs. Zhao felt that she would never admit her mistake. She gave birth to two children, her sister-in-law gave birth to three children, and her two daughters-in-law also gave birth to three children. As soon as she took a look, she could tell that Mrs. Wang's belly was pregnant. At least three months.

She just said that she felt awkward when Wang was squatting, but now she noticed it as soon as Wang stood up.

"Yes." Wang nodded, "It's been three months."

"This is so good, so good. You made it through." Ms. Zhao patted Ms. Wang's hand and sighed, "No matter whether the baby is a boy or a girl, if you can give birth, there is hope. ."

Wang touched her belly, nodded and said, "Yeah."

Mrs. Zhao turned to Li Xiaohan and said, "Xiaohan, your mother has a younger brother and sister, and you are still your father's and mother's favorite first child. Let me tell your mother a little secret. You are young. From now on, Let me tell you again."

"Aunt Zhao, go ahead." It turns out that Aunt Zhao saw it, no wonder she was so excited, Li Xiaohan nodded.

Mrs. Zhao then took Mrs. Wang aside. Logically speaking, Mrs. Wang had given birth once, so she should have experience. However, Ms. Zhao thought that as a stepmother, Mrs. Chen would definitely not pay any attention to Mrs. Wang when she gave birth. Wang estimated that Li Xiaohan, who was born with blind eyes, was injured after giving birth and could no longer be born again.

When a woman gives birth to a child, she has to go through hell once. Now that Wang is pregnant again and she is older, after more than ten years, Zhao thinks she has to have a good talk with Wang.

Mrs. Zhao began to mutter some precautions to Ms. Wang, and Ms. Wang nodded frequently, looking very teachable. The two of them were also afraid of scaring Li Xiaohan, fearing that she would be frightened if she heard this at a young age, and would have trouble giving birth to children in the future, so they did not dare to tell Li Xiaohan loudly. Li Xiaohan was so tired.

Mrs. Zhao pulled Mrs. Wang and murmured for most of an hour. Li Gui had already left with two rakes on his shoulders.

When Zhao finally came back, Li Guiqian asked, "What did you say to your brothers and sisters? What did you say to your siblings for so long? What a waste of my time."

Mrs. Zhao glanced at her husband and said, "Sister Wang is pregnant. Let me tell her what to pay attention to."

"What?" This time it was Li Guiqian who dropped the thing.

"Boss, wife, what are you talking about?" Li Shengyi asked from the side.

"Dad, Xiandong's wife is pregnant. It's been three months, and now she can tell her." Pingshan Village said that you can't tell it before three months, so as not to scare the fetus god and snatch the fetus back. .

"Okay! Okay! Okay!" Li Shengyi said "yes" three times.

"Yes. I've managed to survive." Li Guiqian replied.

"Grandpa, I want to go see Xiaohan later." Li Hehua said suddenly.

"Okay. You go ahead." Li Shengyi said.

Sure enough, Li Hehua came after noon. As soon as he arrived, he congratulated Li Xiandong and Wang, "Uncle Xiandong, I heard that Aunt Wang is pregnant. Congratulations. I wish you will have a son soon and get your wish." My mother gave this to you. She said that when she is pregnant, she sometimes wants to take a bite of sour food. I have been using the sauerkraut jar at home for many years, and the pickled sauerkraut is quite tasty."

"Okay, okay, okay. I'll accept it." Li Xiandong and Wang smiled, "Let's go play with Xiaohan."

Li Hehua went to Li Xiaohan and said, "Xiaohan, come to the room and I will talk to you."

Li Xiaohan thought that Li Hehua was whispering something to him, but unexpectedly, Li Hehua opened his mouth and said, "Xiaohan, your mother is pregnant, are you happy? With the situation in your family, your mother is pregnant." OK."

"I'm happy. I hope my mother can give birth to a younger brother." Li Xiaohan replied. The unhappy time has passed, and now she really hopes that her mother can give birth to a boy. She doesn't care whether it is a boy or a boy, but if it is a boy, her parents will be much happier.

"Yes, your family needs a boy to be like this." Li Hehua sighed.

"Hehua, what's wrong with you? You weren't such an awkward person in the past." Li Xiaohan asked.

Li Hehua glared at Li Xiaohan, "You fool, I'm worried about you. You didn't have any brothers or sisters before. Let me tell you, boys and girls are different. You can make money so much, so you have to pay attention to this. Sons and daughters are different after all."

Li Hehua's tone gradually became sad, which was very different from her previous persona, "You used to be the only one in your family, but you don't understand. You see, I am pampered at home. I have new clothes at home, and I also have my own clothes." My parents also pamper me, and I'm not telling you how many little girls in the village are envious of me."

"But I know that no matter how favored I am, I will get married. After I get married, I have to give up the room at home to Brother Gua, Brother Dou and the others, and I have one share of the land at home. Don't even think about taking it away. My mother often told me that after her daughter gets married, she is like a rootless duckweed. She doesn't know how to float, it all depends on luck. So she often tells me, let me learn more, Whether it's farming, cooking, or weaving, learn more. The more you learn, the more opportunities you will have."

"You are so good at making money and you know so much. If you have a younger brother, a big part of it will be given to your younger brother. Just be careful." Li Hehua advised, "Don't look stupid."

Li Xiaohan looked at Li Hehua and had mixed feelings for a moment. A person like Li Hehua, with such a capable personality, would be able to live a wonderful life on his own in future generations, but in this era, he could only stay awake in pain.

You have to do something yourself. Something should be done.

Li Xiaohan thought like this, then he leaned over, rummaged through the suitcase, took out a land deed, then took out a bag of silver and said, "Lotus, look at it."

"What are you looking at? I'm talking to you about business, please give me some snacks." Li Hehua said, and then opened the land deed, "You...yours?"

"Yes, mine." Li Xiaohan nodded carefully, "I sold a secret recipe to Mrs. Zhang, and I partnered with her in the pepper wine business. The money and land are all mine. I earned them myself. And, even if I don't I can also earn more from these. So, Lotus, you don't have to worry about me."

"It's great, it's great." Li Hehua touched the land deed gently, with envy in his smile, but a trace of tears in his eyes, "I worry about you for nothing, we Xiaohan can do it."

"So, Hehua, do you want to learn skills from me?"

"ah?"

"I can't teach you the art of making pepper wine. But I can teach you the art of growing peppers. I can teach you the art of growing Eucommia ulmoides. In the future, I will also teach you the art of cooking with peppers. You can do it yourself Earn money to buy land, write your own name on it, and no one can take it away whether you marry or not."

"Xiaohan, are you really willing to teach me?"

Li Hehua asked tremblingly. Before Li Xiaohan could reply, she held Li Xiaohan's hand firmly and said, "I do. You don't have to regret it. I will become your teacher from now on, and I will do whatever you ask me to do." , as long as you can learn it."

"Okay! I'll teach you!"

=== Chapter === 73

Li Xiaohan knew that apprenticeship in ancient times was very cautious, but she didn't expect it to be so cautious.

After she told Li Hehua to teach her, the two talked for a while. It was also her first time to teach someone, and they just roughly discussed Li Hehua's level. I knew that Li Hehua had learned some calligraphy from Li Jiacai and Li Jiabao who were studying in the upper family, and then he could also do general arithmetic clearly.

Li Xiaohan breathed a sigh of relief. Speaking of which, although the Li family's family education was difficult to maintain, even the teacher was an old boy who had only passed the exam at a relatively old age. He basically taught reading and three hundred thousand.

But, that's it. The Li family members never signed their names randomly when they went out because they couldn't read. In the end, their families were ruined.

Boys go to school to read and read when they are young, and when they grow up, they go home to farm. There are also two aunts in the school to cook for these children and do some daily care work, which saves a small family a lot of work. .

Li Xiaohan even suspected that his ancestors had traveled through time, otherwise why would it look so much like a kindergarten and elementary school?

In families where the boys go to school and can carry things a little better, they let their daughters learn from their brothers. According to the ancestors, at least they can recognize names, count, and don't sell. An egg doesn't count.

Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua learned reading and arithmetic in this way, but Li Xiaohan was occasionally taught by Li Xiandong. With the integration of later generations' knowledge and the comparison of simplified and traditional Chinese, he was considered to be the most knowledgeable person in the Li family. Li Xiandong and Wang believed that she had been enlightened by her biological grandmother and had no doubts about this.

In this way, the Li family's claim that they are heirs of poetry and calligraphy is indeed worthy of the name.

It should be noted that this is not the modern era of nine-year compulsory education. In this era, studying is a luxury. How rare it is to be able to make most of the clansmen know a little bit about reading, and to pick out the real seeds of reading among them and then focus on cultivating them.

After roughly understanding Li Hehua's current level, Li Xiaohan prepared to teach according to the model of his previous life plus this life. That is, he should not forget the cultural classes, Chinese and mathematics, and he should continue to study in depth and practice according to his own daily practice. Ground, cultivating seedlings, recording growth conditions, results data, and finally teaching how to operate and monetize.

Generally speaking, it is a bit like the teaching method of bringing new people with a little basic education in my previous life.

After the two agreed, Li Hehua went back. At least she had to tell her parents, and she would come over often in the future.

Li Xiaohan also took the opportunity to tell Li Xiandong and Wang about this matter.

Li Xiandong and Wang had no objections to Li Xiaohan's work, and they also liked Li Hehua. The three Li family members had a much better impression of Li Shengyi's family than in the old house, and Li Hehua was Li Xiaohan's rare playmate. It was just a playmate who became a master and apprentice, and Li Xiandong and Wang were not so cautious.

Unexpectedly, an hour later, Li Hehua came with his parents Li Guihou and Ye Shi. They kowtowed three times to Li Xiaohan very carefully, and brought with them a basket of bunches of celery and intact celery. , lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, longan, bacon strips.

Those three kowtows shocked Li Xiaohan. She was only one year older than Li Hehua. Helplessly, Li Hehua moved quickly, and Li Xiaohan couldn't get out of the way, so he had to suffer.

After Li Hehua kowtowed, Li Xiaohan was still in shock, but it was Mrs. Ye who was Li Hehua's biological mother. In the past, Li Xiaohan had a lot of contact with Mrs. Zhao, and his impression of Mrs. Ye was that she was a very clever and agile person. Li Xiaohan was impressed.

Because later Li Hehua said this, "My mother asked me to come to apprentice. She asked my father to ask my grandfather to follow the etiquette of my brother going to school. She also told me that this is something that others can't ask for. Let me cherish the opportunities that come my way."

"Your mother does everything for your own good." Li Xiaohan sighed, showing the love of a parent for their children and their long-term plans for it.

"Yes, Master Xiaohan." Li Hehua nodded.

"You should call me Sister Xiaohan. I know that in your heart, you are my master." Li Xiaohan was very unaccustomed to this kind of title of master. It always made her feel a little unsure of her own identity and her constant perception. A little shaken.

"But..." Li Hehua curled her lips reluctantly under Li Xiaohan's glare, "Yes, Sister Xiaohan."

March 22nd, Grain Rain.

Early in the morning, Li Hehua knocked on the door of the Li family, "Sister Xiaohan, Uncle Xiandong, Auntie, I'm here."

During this period of time, Li Hehua basically stayed by Li Xiaohan's side. There was a lot to do in spring plowing, so Li Xiaohan simply focused on practice first. Li Hehua didn't know anything about peppers, but he was extremely quick when doing work at other times. Li Xiaohan The family has simply added a ready-made workforce.

Li Xiandong and Wang were accustomed to Li Hehua's arrival, and greeted him, "Hehua, you are here, come and sit down."

The Li family was still having breakfast. Li Xiaohan signaled Li Hehua to drink the cup of goat milk left for her. Li Hehua did not refuse, picked it up and drank it all in one gulp.

Speaking of which, because they often go to the fields, Li Hehua and Li Xiaohan's skin is a little darker than in winter, but neither of them cares much.

After breakfast, "Sister Xiaohan, are we transplanting pepper seedlings today?"

"Yes." Li Xiaohan replied, "These peppers are now as tall as a palm, and most of them have six to ten leaves. Later we will directly plant seedlings, dig holes, return soil and water the roots. water."

"You have to remember that it is best to transplant pepper seedlings on a cloudy day. Transplantation on sunny days is prone to sunburn and water loss, and transplantation on rainy days is prone to rot, oh, root rot and death."

"Yeah, I'll remember it. I'll write it down in my notebook when I get back tonight."

Li Xiaohan believed that a good memory is worse than a bad pen, so no matter how busy he was, Li Hehua had to write down what he said that day. However, because paper and pen were expensive, Li Hehua only used charcoal strips to record the key points.

In this way, Li Hehua's reading and writing skills have also improved significantly. Speaking of which, applying what you have learned is indeed a quick and effective learning method.

When a few people arrived at the pepper field, Li Xiandong dug a hole, while the others raised seedlings, transplanted them, returned them to the soil, and then poured water to the roots after a while.

After working for a while, Li Xiaohan found someone coming from his land, "Xiandong, Xiaohan, didn't I keep telling you that I wanted to help? There are so many lands, and there are so many of you. , until how long will you be ready to work?"

After the visitor finished speaking, without waiting for Li Xiandong and others to react, he waved a hoe and joined Li Xiandong, "Dig a hole, ah, dig it so deep and wide, I know."

"Dad, bring water, why are you here?" Li Xiandong said.

Li Xiaohan squinted and saw that they were the parents of the primary school students who had passed the first round of the county examination.

"Why can't you come? The children are in school. Xinhe is teaching them. We, the fathers, have to come."

"Yes, that's the truth."

Li Xiandong also stopped talking. People at that time valued children, so he had to smile and continue working.

After a while, people came one after another, and some even came with cattle. Originally, the three of them wanted to work slowly on the ten acres of land of the Li family. Now, people came one after another. Before my eyes, all ten acres of land were deserted.

"Mom, everyone come here to help with the work. We have to make rice. You go back first and see if there is any meat in the market. They sell some pork, chicken or fish. Then we can add bean paste, tofu, cabbage, eggs, etc. You can buy whatever you see. Hehua and I will go back later and make a spicy hot pot base for everyone. It's the same one I made for Brother Dou and Brother Gua years ago. Let everyone have a taste of the pepper."

"Okay, I'll go back first. Looking at the number of people, I need to cook two pots of rice." Wang stood up and said.

After building a house a few years ago, Ms. Wang is no longer afraid of cooking for many people. Besides, Li Xiaohan's spicy hot pot base is troublesome because of the troublesome base, and it's easy to get stuck later.

When it was noon, Li Xiaohan said, "Dad, let's go back and cook lunch first. Later you will bring your uncles and uncles home for dinner."

"Xiaohan, there's no need to cook our food. Why are you so polite?" someone among the visitors said.

"Everyone comes here to help. My family didn't even serve a meal. Doesn't it mean that we don't understand etiquette? Uncles and uncles want to postpone it. Today I will make a pepper dish for you to try the taste of the pepper. Dad, let's take it back first, and you can go home with everyone in about an hour."

After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, he clapped his hands and went back with Li Hehua without waiting for everyone to delay.

"Sure." Li Xiandong responded.

Li Xiaohan hurried home. Wang's rice was already being cooked, bone soup was being boiled, ginger, onion, and garlic had been washed, and side dishes were prepared.

Since most of the villagers were eating chili peppers for the first time, Li Xiaohan simply lowered the spiciness, put in the white lard instead of butter, and then while the oil was lukewarm, added ginger, onion, and garlic, sauteed the sesame oil, took it out, and added For the sauce, add pepper noodles, cumin and various spices, then add wine, icing sugar, Sichuan peppercorns, and finally stir to keep warm.

This is the first time Li Hehua has seen such a complicated cooking method. How much oil and ingredients are used? It is so fragrant and overwhelming.

After the base material was cooked, Li Xiaohan picked up half of it and put it in a jar, and then poured the bone soup into the pot. The aroma of meat and the overbearing aroma of pepper began to merge, gradually becoming mellow and alluring.

Li Xiaohan tasted it and thought that people from Cantonese might be able to eat this spiciness.

Moreover, people here have always had the habit of eating dogwood, so they should be able to accept it, right?

To avoid overdoing it, Li Xiaohan also let Li Hehua taste it.

"How about it?"

"Spicy, but not fragrant, delicious, I still want to eat it." Why doesn't it taste good after putting down so many things? Li Hehua sighed in her heart.

"Okay, done."

At this time, Li Xiandong also came back with people.

"Dad, I borrowed the bowl from the clan. You can ask everyone to wash it before we can start eating." Li Xiaohan said as he poured down the sliced pork.

It's too late to wash the dishes, but Li Xiandong's house has a well, so everyone can just take one and wash it themselves.

Move the dining table and place it in the middle of the yard. There are not enough chairs, but everyone doesn't pay attention to this. You can eat squatting.

The tribesmen were a little embarrassed at first, but they really wanted to try what the peppers taste like. They took advantage of the crowd to cover themselves up, so they all came here coquettishly.

As a result, when I came here, I was stimulated by the strong and overbearing aroma, especially the soup in Li Xiaohan's pot. The pork slices were cooked in just a moment, and the soup was poured into the wooden plate. , and then it was taken out and placed on the table in the yard.

Everyone couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

"Sister Xiaohan said that the taste of this pepper is overbearing and choking. If you are not used to it, just drink it with water." Li Hehua put down the wooden basin and said.

"Come on, come on, everyone, pick up your chopsticks, you're welcome." Li Xiandong said.

"Xiandong, this is pure meat, aren't you too polite?" Some people felt embarrassed.

"It's not much. Let's pick up your chopsticks. Let's try this pepper for my family. If you don't get used to it, just rinse it with water." Nowadays, Li Xiandong is considered a wealthy family. With ten acres of pepper, Li Xiandong also It's stressful.

"Then let's trap him?"

"It's done. It's nothing to do with grinding." Li Xiandong picked up the chopsticks first. If he didn't take off his chopsticks, no one would take off his chopsticks first.

Sure enough, when Li Xiandong picked up his chopsticks, everyone picked them up one after another.

For a while, the Li family yard was filled with coughs.

"Oh, it tastes like dogwood. Why does this pepper look so much like dogwood?"

"It's spicier and more domineering than dogwood. No, I have to rinse it with water."

"What are you doing? All the oil and water are gone. If you really can't stand the smell, just press it with rice."

"No, it feels like I can't stand it and want to eat it at the same time."

Everyone was discussing loudly while eating, but they didn't eat slowly. A plate of pork was finished in a short time. But Li Xiaohan's fish has also arrived.

Naturally, I don't have the skill to fillet the fish, but I just cut the fish into pieces, put it in and cooked it, and it also has the taste of pepper.

"Oops, it's meat again, so the pepper taste is lighter, but the fish doesn't smell fishy at all when eaten like this."

"No, I don't need to rinse it anymore.

"Let me tell you, Erzhu's dad, I heard that during the Chinese New Year, your son ate so much that he shed tears. Why don't you shed tears?"

"Nonsense, my son got it in his eyes."

"Haha, you just took a big mouthful of rice. I saw it. Could it be that you couldn't bear it?"

"What do you mean by paying so much attention to me? I can't stop your mouth by eating something so delicious."

…

Everyone was chuckling and laughing. The atmosphere was extremely relaxing. After the fish and meat, they added bean curd and wok sprouts, and everyone ate them up. In the end, even the soup base was added with some water and each person drank half a bowl.

"This soup base is delicious enough." Everyone said with satisfaction.

"No, how many ingredients have been cooked? The taste is quite good."

Li Xiaohan didn't stop everyone from drinking the soup base. There was no such thing as unhealthy at this time. With so many oily and watery ingredients put in, many people didn't eat so well during spring plowing. If you eat it once in a while, it wouldn't be unhealthy at all. On the contrary, it would be unhealthy. It's a waste.

"After eating this pepper, my whole body seems to be still full of energy."

"I feel like I feel a little more relaxed."

Li Xiaohan came out and explained, "Doctor Zhang from Renhetang said that pepper has the effect of dispelling cold and removing dampness, so some people will feel this way after eating it."

"No wonder, dear, this is what Dr. Zhang said, and it's absolutely correct."

Everyone sighed for a while, feeling that they had learned a lot, and then worked harder in the afternoon, finishing all the ten acres of land that Li Xiandong and his family had planned to work on for several days.

"Dear uncles and uncles, these peppers have been transplanted, and there are still a lot of seedlings from the original nursery. If you want them, come and take a few plants back and plant them in your own vegetable garden. They will be ready in two or three months. It can be harvested."

"This... I'm so embarrassed. These peppers are so valuable, and these seedlings are also so precious. Xiaohan, keep it for yourself."

Li Xiaohan smiled and said, "I don't have any land at home, and I can't grow so many in the vegetable garden. I can't just eat peppers without vegetables. I counted, and I have to leave a dozen or so for me." Second uncle, everyone else present will get a share, each person can have four seedlings, so come over if you want."

"Then...then we're not polite?" Li Xiaohan said reasonably, and everyone was moved. This pepper really tastes good. How fresh!

"You're welcome. Uncle Manshan, here are these plants for you."

"Hey, hey, thank you Xiaohan." Li Manshan carefully took the four pepper seedlings.

"Xiaohan, I want it too..." Suddenly, everyone lined up.

In the end, Li Xiaohan's estimate was quite accurate. There were really only a dozen trees left for Li Shengli's family, and there was no one who didn't want them.

After the work was done and the seedlings were divided, everyone left one after another.

"Everyone, come to my house for dinner." Li Xiaohan invited again.

"No, no. Let's go back and eat by ourselves. Let's go."

After a while, everyone was gone, for fear that Li Xiaohan would invite him to dinner again.

"After everyone takes the seedlings, they won't be able to eat anymore." Li Xiandong said as he hitched the ox cart, "Let's go back."

"Yeah." Li Xiaohan also understood.

"Uncle Gui, please move all the remaining seedlings back." This time, Li Hehua's father, Li Gui, also came over to help for a day. However, the relationship between the two families is now closer, so naturally they are no longer so clearly distinguished.

"Okay, I'm leaving first. Hehua, follow your sister Xiaohan and pack the lunch dishes before going home."

"I know, Dad."

"Uncle Your Majesty, Hehua ate with me tonight, you don't have to keep her food."

"Sure." Li Guihou said, this daughter is now by Li Xiaohan's side from morning to night. She always feels like letting others help her raise her daughter, so she should come and help when she has time.

That night, the topic in Pingshan Village was the pepper banquet at noon and the few pepper seedlings distributed in the evening.

Those who didn't help seemed to regret something, but unfortunately they couldn't say it out loud, so they could only pretend not to care.

And those who took the pepper seedlings home carefully transplanted the seedlings into the vegetable garden early.

Erzhu's house.

"Er Zhu, go get your dad out. It's time for dinner. It's like living in a latrine."

Erzhu left in response and came back after a while, "Dad said he is much better now. He will go to the river to take a bath first and then come back."

"I know, let's use the chopsticks."

After a while, Erzhu's father came back as expected.

"Dad, you can't do it. I didn't have diarrhea even after eating the spicy soup made by Sister Xiaohan. If I had known earlier, you should have let me eat it. What a waste." Erzhu complained that he would never have diarrhea.

"Okay, kid, if it weren't for your father and me, our family would be able to get pepper seedlings. In two months, your mother will pick them and make them for you to eat." Erzhu's father waved his hand and sat down. road.

"I don't know how to do it. Besides, I heard you say how good it is to eat at noon. How can we have so many ingredients at home." Erzhu Niang said, quite disgusted with the fact that her husband's wild boar can't eat fine chaff.

After eating so well, I came back with diarrhea. It's all wasted, not even as good as a son.

"It's okay. It tastes a bit like Cornus officinalis when I eat it. Just follow the recipe of Cornus officinalis." Erzhu's father said calmly.

"Why is today's dish so bland? Don't we have any dogwood at home? Put some dogwood in it to make it taste more delicious."

"You have diarrhea. You must eat something light. Just eat." Erzhu Niang said angrily.

People are also very addicted to food.

=== Chapter === 74

July 8th is the end of the summer heat. It's the end of the Three Heats and summer is coming to an end.

"Dad, have you all moved here?" Li Xiaohan asked, holding up a straw broom and sweeping dust on the furniture.

"They've all been moved here." Li Xiandong put down the table he was holding and said.

This summer, the Li family completed the expansion of the second backyard of their home, which is to expand the first courtyard on the original basis. From then on, the first front yard is used to make wine, sell wine, and receive foreign guests. The second backyard Just use it to live.

The layout of the second entrance is the same as that of the first entrance. There are two main rooms on the left and right sides of the main room, and two wing rooms on the east and west sides. However, due to the money from selling wine during this period, the floor of the main room was all painted with Sanhe soil. With the fire wall installed, the east and west wings also have kitchens, woodsheds, bathhouses, etc. Basically, the Li family of three can live in the second courtyard.

The reason for this is because starting from the harvest of the peppers grown by the Li family in early May, the brewing of pepper wine is no longer limited by raw materials, and the output begins to increase significantly.

Originally, one batch of pepper wine was produced every month, but now two batches are produced every month. Otherwise, it would be too busy to concentrate on one batch. At the beginning, there were only twenty jars of ten-jin bottles and twenty jars of one-jin wine. Now, all the one-jin jars are no longer used, and all have been replaced by large ten-jin jars. There are one hundred jars in each batch, and two hundred jars are produced in a month.

It is expected that the Qing Gang will want to add more, because they are no longer satisfied with Fucheng, and several stores outside Fucheng are also strongly demanding distribution.

Of course, Li Xiaohan told them that his family's resources were limited and he asked them to take it easy and not make the stall too big.

The vacant side rooms of the Li family were either filled with wine or raw materials, and even the main house was about to be requisitioned.

Yes, peppers have entered a period of high fruiting. A large number of peppers are picked every day, scattered on dustpans, placed on bamboo racks layer by layer, then dried in the sun, and finally put into sacks , save it and use it until next year's pepper harvest.

Therefore, the front yard is no longer enough to the naked eye. Moreover, the Qing Gang comes twice a month, and people picking peppers come in and out on weekdays. The three members of the Li family alone can produce peppers on the ten acres of land. Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong had to soak up the unfinished pickings. Wang's belly was already big and she expected to give birth in early October, so for ten cents a day, she hired Zhao and three other aunts to help pick peppers every day.

This is a good job. You don't need to put in much effort or leave the house. You can just pick the peppers in the village. Ten cents a day can be easily earned at the doorstep of the house. Every woman in the village would not envy this job. The only drawback is that you cannot touch your eyes when picking peppers, otherwise they will be unbearably spicy.

The front yard was busy all day long with people coming and going. Li Xiaohan felt it was a bit noisy while living there. She hoped that life and work could be separated, so she persuaded Li Xiandong to expand the yard.

This is also easy to understand. In the village, several generations live under the same roof. When the house is not enough for living, they all expand it like this. However, the younger generation usually lives in the second yard, and the head of the family still lives in the first. Li Xiandong's family planned to move them all into the backyard after Wang gave birth, and the front yard was used entirely for brewing wine and entertaining guests.

On this day, the backyard was finally expanded, and Li Xiandong moved some heavy furniture, including the guy who cooked in the kitchen, to the backyard because Li Xiaohan said she would use the kitchen in the front yard next. Li Xiandong and Wang didn't care. The custom in the village was that the house where the pregnant woman lived could not be changed, and everything else was fine.

Today is the day to move in. Mrs. Wang is busy in the kitchen, Li Xiaohan is cleaning the furniture in the hall, and Li Xiandong is moving things. Suddenly, he hears someone shouting in the front yard, "Xiaohan, Hehua, we are back."

Relying on their good relationship and their ability to know the basics, Zhao, her sister-in-law Ye and her daughter-in-law Ma got the job of picking peppers. Now it is Zhao and the others who have picked the first batch of peppers.

"Hey, I'm here." Li Hehua walked out of the first main room on the west side. Now this room has been vacated to store peppers.

However, in less than half a year, Li Hehua became a little calmer, and his whole person was much quieter than before, but it made people feel more convincing.

Holding a notebook and a weighing stand at the same time, Li Hehua asked, "Mother, mother, what field number was this picked from?"

Ye looked at her daughter, with a smile on her face, but she didn't dare to be vague at all, and said, "This is picked from field No. 1, both baskets, and the third basket is picked from field No. 2."

"Well, let's weigh in."

"Yes. The first basket carried was sixteen pounds and four taels, the second basket was thirteen pounds and two taels, and the third basket was seventeen pounds." Li Hehua reported the numbers while recording the data in his notebook.

Based on the number of acres, the fields are numbered from No. 1 to No. 10. The transplanting date, watering time, and fertilization time of each field, the fruiting will begin in the later period, the weight of each fruit picked, and the quality of the peppers. Everything is recorded clearly in a small book.

After Li Hehua finished accounting, the three Zhaos skillfully took out several dustpans from the side room, poured out the peppers in the baskets, spread them out, and then placed them layer by layer on bamboo racks to dry.

At this time, Li Hehua will carefully observe the condition of these peppers, including the size of the plants, their color, their spiciness, and whether there are any obvious diseases or insect pests.

"It's the first time I've seen such a meticulous farming. This kind of farming is totally different." Mrs. Zhao sighed as she watched Li Hehua take notes.

"No." Ye said with a sigh, "Our lotus said, after all, this is the first time to plant this pepper. Now record it, so that you won't forget whatever happens next time you plant it, and you can also check for leaks. fill a vacancy."

"If you ask me, these peppers are well grown." Ms. Zhao said.

These ten acres of pepper fields have been carefully taken care of, and the results are now good. They are all as thick as a little finger and bright red in color, making people like them just by looking at them.

Zhao, Ye and others picked two acres of land a day, rotating every five days, just enough to pick the ripe peppers.

Li Xiaohan occasionally took Li Hehua to the fields, mainly to observe the growth of peppers. As for picking, Li Xiaohan didn't have to worry about it at all.

Summer is too hot, so Zhao and others like to get up early, pick more than an acre, and then come over to the Li family yard to help dry it. After drying, it is almost noon, and they go home to work and cook lunch. When the sun sets in the afternoon, I go to the field to pick the remaining half an acre, and then I go to the Li family yard to help pick up the peppers.

Just like now, the Zhao family and the Ye family spread out the peppers to dry, then took a stool and sat under the eaves, poured out a bag of dried peppers, cut off the pepper stalks, and chatted while working , "This thing turns out to be so many."

"No, from the time it started to bear fruit in May to now, it has been blooming and bearing fruit non-stop. It grows again after picking, and grows again after picking."

"It's a pity that it doesn't support your stomach, so you can't eat it as a meal."

"Not only can't it be eaten as food, but the more you eat it, the more it can be eaten as food. Look at the spicy dried radish pickled at home. When several men in the family come back from work at noon, they eat it with gruel. Everyone has to drink a lot. A few bowls."

The dozens of pepper plants at Li Shengyi's house have begun to bear fruit and they have been pickled. According to Li Xiaohan's instructions, they have pickled dried radish so as not to be too popular this summer. Pair it with a bowl of gruel, and you will be sweating after drinking it, which is refreshing.

"No, even Brother Gua and Brother Dou are like this."

Men and children eat too much, and housewives are both happy and worried. They have to plan on eating the food at home all year round, otherwise they will go hungry during the lean period.

"But if you eat too much, your body will get better. The melon brothers and the bean brothers are growing taller."

No, considering that the past few years have been good, and a few of us can earn thirty cents a day, there is no need to save money.

"However, I didn't expect there to be so many peppers. Xiaohan planted them on ten acres." Mrs. Zhao looked at the Li family's warehouse with a little worry.

As soon as Zhao said these words, the smiles on Ye and Ma's faces slowly stopped. As people who pick and help dry peppers on a daily basis, they are the ones who can best appreciate the yield of these peppers. .

Nowadays, the peppers in the fields continue to grow, but in the main house of the Li family, there is no end of peppers.

"Xiaohan will take care of it, after all, the Qinggang people have been here twice a month, and the mule carts transporting wine are full." Ma said young and hopeful.

Now that they are transporting so much wine, the Qinggang no longer uses horse-drawn carriages but instead use mule-drawn carts. In addition to being a little slower, it is actually more stable. Moreover, mule carts are easy to come by, but good horses are hard to find.

"That's true." Zhao and Ye felt a little relieved again.

The Zhao family could feel relieved, but Li Hehua could not.

As someone who records data all the way, Li Hehua naturally has some understanding of the production and consumption of peppers. It was okay in the past few months, and winemaking has long been waiting for these peppers, but after all, winemaking cannot consume much peppers, such as There are more and more sun-dried peppers in the Li family's warehouse today.

What's even more frightening is that it seems that the peppers have not yet entered the full fruiting period. The pepper yields of fields No. 1 and 2 where the earliest batch of seedlings were transplanted are obviously higher than those of the subsequent fields. It's big. It's conceivable that the output of the pepper fields after Field No. 3 can continue to catch up in the future.

There is no sign of production reduction in the No. 1 and No. 2 fields. According to Sister Xiaohan, the peppers will continue to bear fruit until October.

Li Hehua is now very good at arithmetic. She compared the output of peppers with the consumption of wine making and felt that these ten acres of peppers would definitely not be used up.

What to do? Piling up waste?

"It's okay. I don't grow so many peppers just for the purpose of making wine." After hearing Li Hehua's worries, Li Xiaohan didn't show any concern and only asked, "How are your peppers doing?" "

"It's quite delicious. I followed your teachings, Sister Xiaohan, to pickle spicy dried radish and serve it as gruel. From my grandfather to Brother Dou, everyone doesn't like it. Occasionally, it's also used for cooking, but I My aunt was reluctant to part with it and said it would be best to keep it and eat it hot in the winter. My family doesn't eat dogwood anymore, and I always think that peppers are more delicious." Li Hehua explained.

"That's it." Li Xiaohan is still very optimistic about the acceptance of pepper by the people in this land. After all, he has always had the habit of eating dogwood, especially in this hot and humid climate. After eating a little pepper, he will According to Dr. Zhang, it drives away cold and dampness. According to the man from the Li family, it makes him feel hot and sweaty.

"This afternoon we will chop chili peppers and make chili noodles. Tomorrow we will fry the base ingredients. When the No. 10 Green Gang comes, we will take advantage of this east wind to do business." Li Xiaohan said.

"Yes, Sister Xiaohan." Li Hehua finally felt relieved when she heard that Li Xiaohan had a solution.

That afternoon, everyone in the Li family, except Wang, took turns chopping peppers, which made their eyes turn red.

It's not easy to be an industrialist. Li Xiaohan blinked his red eyes and thought with tears in his eyes, but he would never dare to wipe them with his hands.

Early the next morning, a big man selling pork brought dozens of kilograms of suet. This family is a regular customer of his family. They often buy meat, and they also came up with a way to cut the bones to make soup. The pork man is now making a lot of money from the bones, so he delivers door-to-door delivery to his distinguished customers. It is as it should be.

Cut the pork suet into cubes, deep-fry the oil, then add ginger, onion, and garlic, fry until fragrant, take it out, add chili batter, add spices, add wine, add icing sugar...

"Did you see clearly?" Li Xiaohan asked Li Hehua. She had just fried a pot and her hands were already starting to get sore.

"See clearly." Li Hehua replied, but Li Xiaohan immediately handed over the spatula, "Okay, you can make the next pot."

The Li family's pot is already the largest on the market, but it is still small. For safety reasons, I don't dare to fry too much for fear of the oil rolling out.

"Ah... I, I'll do it?" Li Hehua was a little unsure, "Sister Xiaohan, I'm afraid it will be ruined."

"Don't be afraid, just stir more and don't stick to the bottom of the pot. I'll pour the raw materials for you next to you. Hurry." Li Xiaohan said, eager to get Li Hehua started, so that at least there would be someone to rotate with.

"Then I'll do it." Li Hehua encouraged herself. She couldn't be timid at this time.

"let's go."

The base ingredients were being stir-fried in the kitchen, and outside the kitchen the three Zhaos were drying the peppers. They couldn't help but exclaimed, "It's so fragrant!"

"No." Mrs. Zhao lowered her head and said, "I just saw it. It was Lotus holding the spatula. Xiaohan is the true sect."

"No, Xiaohan is good enough to our family." Ma also whispered, "Xiaohan's grandmother next door is jealous of our family."

"Step-grandmother," Mrs. Ye corrected, "who knows what they are planning now. They have not passed the test in Rong County. I heard that it costs a lot to spend money on Zhu Xiucai."

"If you want to talk about it, why go to Zhu Xiucai's place? The family studies are so good. Xinhe also passed the examination as a scholar in June. He is still a junior student. Now he can go to Qingshan Academy in Fucheng to study. He has a holiday. When I came back, I came back to the clan school to teach them. Now in the clan academy, there are usually two people, clan uncle and De, who teach them. They are both children. It's great, it saves money and is convenient."

"I'm very happy. I don't want to talk about them, otherwise it will spoil the fun." Ms. Zhao said.

Seeing that her mother-in-law was so calm, Ma felt relieved. She was really afraid that Chen would use her seniority to grab this job. Among these people, she would be the youngest and the lowest senior, so she would not be the only one to quit. If my mother-in-law and others say so, I expect there will be no problem with her job.

Thinking this way, Ma said again, "Hehua is really capable now. Following Xiaohan, she is becoming more and more like Xiaohan. Last time she went home, she taught Brother Dou how to write, which is really amazing. Cooking is better than Xiaohan. The food made by my sister-in-law is delicious, and she is also good-looking, so you can rest assured, aunt."

Speaking of Li Hehua, Mrs. Ye is really relieved now, "Yes, now that she is like this and has a lot of skills, I will be relieved no matter where she gets married."

"You have to choose one nearby. Don't marry too far away. If you are too far away, you can't see it and you will panic." Ms. Zhao said.

"That's the reason. Her father and I have discussed it. After Jia Cai Jiabao's marriage is completed, in two years, we will choose a good family for her nearby." Ye said.

"At this time, if there are good young men in ten villages and eight villages, you can pay attention to them."

The three women talked quietly about their children's marriage. As for Li Xiaohan, they didn't talk about it. They always felt that the people in this village were not worthy of Xiaohan, at least they should be like the people in the city. Unimaginable. Anyway, it has to be very good.

Li Hehua and Li Xiaohan didn't know that Zhao and others were discussing their marriage. Of course, they didn't pay attention to this matter now. They just wanted to start a career and make money as soon as possible, which was the right thing to do.

Therefore, even if they are sweating profusely in the kitchen, the two of them will not back down. Making money is nothing without hard work.

Early on the morning of the 10th, it was the day when the Qing Gang came to get the pepper wine. Now everyone is familiar with each other. Early in the morning, the leader of the Qing Gang came with his people. He didn't recognize the stranger. He who was familiar with the road started to unload the raw wine from the mule cart, and then started talking. The pepper wine is shipped up.

Li Xiaohan was counting the accounts beside him. They now settled the goods in cash and collected money one time at a time.

"How are the sales going?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"Very good." Gang Leader Qing said calmly.

"Brother, if you're not selling very well, then you're selling crazy, okay?" Ma Wu said, "How many months has it been? The daily limit of the Fanjiao wine has completely ticked off everyone's drinking bugs. It came out, and I was so greedy that I didn't drink it. It's only June, so we can sell it openly, so everyone can't rush to buy it."

At this point, Ma Wu turned to Li Xiaohan and smiled in a flattering manner, "Miss Li, how about you mention the production of pepper wine?"

I'm so happy to make this money, it's easy to make, and it gives me face when I talk about it.

Those people who are good at drinking say good things every day to urge him to buy goods, and they brag so hard that they almost don't recognize themselves. This is much more enjoyable than collecting protection fees before, and they don't have to worry about one day grabbing the territory and losing their lives.

"Take it easy, there are only so many people in this city. If you buy more, others will sell less. Be careful of people stumbling upon you." Li Xiaohan advised.

"Who dares to trip up our Qinggang!" Ma Wu shouted.

"Lao Wu." The leader of the Qing Gang stopped.

"I know." Ma Wu lowered his head and said.

Alas, the gang leader and Miss Li are just too cautious. Why are these two people like this?

Having said this, Ma Wu looked at the two of them suspiciously.

Li Xiaohan didn't expect what Ma Wu was thinking, but smiled and said, "It's a rare day today. I'll treat you all to dinner, and I'll have to use your car to go out later."

"Invite us to dinner?" Leader Qing asked suspiciously.

"Right?" Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "I'll treat you to some spicy hotpot and fried snails."

"Okay." Ma Wu responded quickly.

I came out early and only ate a steamed bun to fill my stomach. I was indeed a little hungry. Just now, Miss Li and Miss Hehua were cooking something in the kitchen. It was fragrant and made him greedy, but he was too embarrassed to speak.

A large plate of Malatang was served quickly. There were no chopsticks, only a handful of bamboo skewers.

Then there is a large plate of fried field snails, red and oily, and perilla leaves are also served at the door.

Li Xiaohan demonstrated first and then said, "Please."

Everyone in the Qing Gang was not polite. They sold pepper wine and naturally drank it. The spiciness was nothing to them.

"Wow, cooking with pepper turns out to be like this, refreshing and enjoyable." Ma Wu said.

"Paired with a bottle of ice-cold turbid wine, it will be even more enjoyable." Xiao Mao agreed. He is also a good drinker. The jar of turbid wine that Miss Li gave him as a thank you at the beginning was glared at by the gang leader, so he drank it with his brothers.

"This fried snail is very good. It doesn't smell fishy at all. It's fat and tender. It's often found by the river. I didn't expect it to be so delicious."

"This is delicious. Who would want to eat this in the past?"

…

Everyone in the Qing Gang ate happily, but the leader of the Qing Gang had already thought about it a thousand times, "Miss Li, what is your plan? I wonder if the Qing Gang can help?"

"This is my latest business, pepper base. If Qinggang wants to come together, that's fine, but you can't drive away my customers anymore and make it exclusive to yourself." Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

Gang Leader Qing's face was suffocated.

=== Chapter === 75

After saying hello to the leader of the Green Gang and explaining that he would not accept the exclusive this time, the Leader of the Green Gang looked quite embarrassed.

But now both of them have become old foxes, and since their interests are so deeply tied, they will naturally not fall out over this.

Besides, the leader of the Green Gang was doing it secretly, and Li Xiaohan only said it now, which might not be an acquiescence.

After slowing down, Gang Leader Qing tried to persuade her, "Why should Miss Li earn the hard money from selling food instead of focusing on making pepper wine? You will make a lot of money, and no one in your family will dare to disturb you. "

Li Xiaohan sighed, looked around, and said, "What I'm telling you is to be cautious and not to be careless. You may have compromised due to various forces, and you think you are low-key enough. But , I can only tell you that wine is made from grain."

Once a war breaks out, food must be prepared for war and must be managed in a unified manner. Let alone ancient times, even when the country had high-tech grain reserves in previous generations, agriculture was still the first industry.

Moreover, when food is in short supply, continuing to buy and sell wine made from grain will easily arouse people's resentment and make them vulnerable to impact.

So it's a very profitable and risky business.

Li Xiaohan could only vaguely mention it, but who could have predicted that war would come? In other words, people instinctively do not want to believe in possibilities that are not good for them.

Who dares to think that the old emperor will die soon, and the prince and grandson will fight together. After all, the old emperor is very capable now, constantly suppressing the prince, improving the grandson's reputation in various ways, and it looks like he can still struggle for another twenty years.

In troubled times, people are worse than dogs. Except for the two kings who were not convinced, most people began to think that it would be better to let their grandson succeed to the throne.

Seeing that Gang Leader Qing was not persuaded, Li Xiaohan said instead, "Although my business is not as big as yours, Gang Leader Ye, I have occasionally heard a saying, don't put all your eggs in one basket. You can understand that, except for pepper wine , I must have another way."

Speaking of this, the leader of the Green Gang was thoughtful.

However, no matter how the Qing Gang leader reacts, Li Xiaohan's trip to Fucheng to set up a stall is certain.

After eating sweet pepper vegetables, Li Xiaohan, Li Xiandong, and Li Hehua followed the Qinggang's convoy all the way to Fucheng, and finally parted ways.

Li Xiaohan and the three of them first turned around and went to the carpenter's shop in the city to pick up the previously customized wooden stall. As the shopkeeper of the grocery store said, the carpenter's shop was already very skilled in this, and the size and so on, Everything is just right.

The three of them took the stall cart, then bought a small charcoal stove, and then went to the West Market. They arrived very late, and the crowd in the West Market had already passed. Fortunately, Li Xiaohan asked Li Xiandong to tell the villagers in advance yesterday that he would leave a place for her next to him.

People in Pingshan Village now gather together to set up stalls, so it is not difficult to reserve a spot. However, when they first set up stalls, they were spaced wider. Now when they come, everyone can just take in the stalls.

"Xiaohan, you have so many things, what do you sell?" a villager asked curiously.

"Uncle, I sell food." Li Xiaohan replied crisply while busy.

"They put all the food in front of us."

The stalls in the West Market are roughly divided into different areas. On one side, those selling steamed buns, steamed buns and hot soup noodles are all in the front, so you can wander around only when you are full. There are also some people who come directly to buy food and then leave after eating, without continuing to shop inside.

"It's okay, my stuff smells good." Li Xiaohan said nonchalantly. The men had quickly lit the two charcoal stoves, and then set up an iron pot. In one pot, they poured in the fried snails in the bucket, and in the other pot they poured the well water that had just been dug at the grocery store. Pour it in, and then pour a palm-sized piece of base into the water.

The fire of the charcoal stove is definitely not as big as the stove at home, so Li Xiaohan's ingredients have been processed, the snails have been fried, and the various green beans and meatballs have been scalded in hot water before taking them out. Here you only need to heat it to prevent the lard from solidifying and affecting the taste, and to promote the aroma.

Sure enough, within a short while, the aroma of fried snails and spicy hotpot gradually evaporated.

Although the cooking techniques of the people at that time were not bad, there was such a unique and overbearing aroma. It was so fragrant that it seemed to bring out the greed in my heart.

There are also some people who are not used to it. They cough slightly, frown and look around, "What does it smell like?"

Seeing that the time was almost here, Li Xiaohan opened his mouth and shouted loudly, "Pan pepper vegetables, fresh and delicious pepper vegetables. Come and have a taste, come and try it, pepper vegetables." "

"Stir-fried snails with pepper, spicy hot pepper."

"Is this the pepper from that pepper wine?"

"Yes," Li Xiaohan said loudly, "It's the pepper in the pepper wine. Uncle, do you want to try it?"

Onlookers began to gather. After all, in Fucheng, Qinggang's pepper wine was selling like a boom.

This pepper can not only be used to make wine, but also can be used to cook?

Whether they wanted to eat or not, everyone gathered together.

"Stir-fried snails with pepper, spicy hot peppers. On the first day of opening, each person will receive two snails for free." Li Xiaohan said as he saw that the fried snails were emitting white smoke and the soup had begun to melt. Make a killing move loudly.

"What, free gift?"

"Yes, uncle, do you want it?"

It's free, who doesn't want it? "Give me two, let's have a taste, but you are so stingy, it's only two. There are a lot of snails in the river. If you are not so poor that you can't open the pot, who can eat this hard shell?" Son's stuff."

Li Xiaohan explained with a smile, and used a spatula to scoop out a large bowl of snails and handed it to the crowd, "This snail is not expensive, but this pepper is expensive. You see so much oily flowers, so much." Where's the spices?"

"Everyone spread the word and give it a try. The bowl must be given back to me in the end."

"I'll give it a try first, I'll give it a try first."

"Hey, how do you eat this thing?"

For a moment, he forgot about this, and Li Xiaohan said, "Dad, please demonstrate to everyone. For this snail, you need to suck the tail first, and then suck again towards the head."

Li Xiandong picked up a snail and sucked out the snail meat in a few strokes.

When everyone saw it, they all imitated it. Some people sucked it out easily, while others couldn't suck it out until the soup was gone. Li Xiaohan also expected this and had prepared a handful of toothpicks.

Suddenly, people around Li Xiaohan's stall were sucking snails with grins on their faces, attracting many people around. Such a bowl of snails would be gone after a while.

"Girl, no, I haven't tasted it yet?" said the shameless one.

Today was originally the day to open the market, so Li Xiaohan was not annoyed and served another bowl to everyone, "My fried snails with pepper are quite flavorful and delicious."

"It's quite tasty."

"Just try those two snails for free. How will you feel about eating them? Why don't you buy a bowl and eat it yourself." Li Xiaohan encouraged.

Immediately someone asked the price, "How much does it cost?"

"Two pence for a spoonful." Li Xiaohan waved the spoon in his hand and scooped out a full spoonful.

"It's expensive, it's expensive. You can eat a steamed bun for two cents, or you can eat a bowl of hot noodle soup in front of me if you add one cent. Why do you only have this spoonful of snails? How many can you suck out? Mouth." At that moment, someone shouted loudly.

"These different things are at different price points. Eating steamed buns and pasta means you are full. Everyone eats my peppers because they are fresh and refreshing. Have you ever eaten fried snails with peppers? Have you ever eaten this? I don't have it in Malatang, I don't have it at all. This is freshness. This taste is so refreshing on a hot day."

"I tell you, if you take my fried field snails back with you and drink it with a pot of turbid wine simmered in well water, it will be more enjoyable if three or two friends eat and drink together. Those of you who have eaten it, think about the taste. ,Yes or no."

"If you think it's expensive, it doesn't matter. We also sell the base ingredients. Buy the base ingredients. Heat the pan, add the base ingredients, add ginger, onion, garlic, washed and processed snails, stir-fry, and finally add perilla. Ye, I promise, it will taste the same when fried."

"Are you giving out the recipe?" Some people couldn't believe it. How tightly a secret recipe is kept these days.

"Yes. It's all given out. It's hard to earn the money for frying snails. On hot days, you have to fish them out first, then put them in a wooden tray to raise for two or three days, and remove the contents from your stomach. The soil was all spit out, and then the tails were cut off one by one, and then they had to be transported to Fucheng, which was very time-consuming and laborious. We are the pepper growers, and during the delay, the peppers in the field were ripe to rotten. "

It can't be cooked to death. I've hired someone.

But having said that, most people feel that this snail is ready to be tasted. After all, so many spices have been put in it, and so much effort has been put into it. I just tried a few of them, and they are indeed delicious. .

"I see clearly, you mainly sell that kind of pepper base."

Just as he was talking, suddenly a person came running over from Xishikou, it was Xiao Mao, "Miss Li, bring me ten portions of fried snails, and a little spicy." After saying that, he handed over one Big basin.

"Brother Xiaomao, why are you here?" Li Xiaohan asked while filling the pot with fried snails.

One spoon, two spoons... ten spoons, eleven spoons, twelve spoons, those with sharp eyes can count them in their hearts.

"We'll come over after we finish the work. Let's get together with a few brothers and eat together later." Xiao Mao said. It's hard to say that he came immediately after unloading the wine. He could only vaguely say that he was working, and then continued to order. "I want five skewers of meatballs, five skewers of bean paste, five skewers of water spinach, and five skewers of turnips."

Li Xiandong, who was in front of Malatang, gave it to them.

"Brother Xiao Mao, fried snails are twenty cents, meatballs are four cents per bunch, bean dip is one cent per bunch, green vegetables are one cent per bunch. The total is fifty cents." Li Hehua made the final account.

"Sure." Xiao Mao took out 50 Wen , "I have something to do tomorrow, please leave me a copy of the same thing."

"Brother Xiao Mao, we won't come tomorrow. We have to catch snails and stir-fry the base ingredients. How can we have time to come here every day? We go out every five and ten. Brother Xiao Mao, why don't you buy some pepper base and fry it at home?" "Li Xiaohan interjected.

Xiao Mao was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect that Miss Li's pepper wine had a limited output, as did the pepper vegetables. "Okay, give me two pieces of the pepper base."

"Twenty cents a piece, you can fry it with any oil you usually use. We make it with good lard." Li Hehua responded, liking such a refreshing customer.

Another forty coins went out.

Xiaomao came and went like the wind, and he spent ninety cents on a meal, so he probably wouldn't be able to eat enough.

"Little girl, you just made a miscalculation. You filled twelve spoonfuls of the fried snails, which should be twenty-four." After Xiaomao left, someone in the crowd pointed it out.

"That's right," Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "Bring your own dishes and add one spoon for every five spoons."

"Oh, this is a good deal."

Although I said this, there were still many people watching and few people buying. However, the tasting bowl came back after a round and was empty again.

There were several little dolls squatting on the ground nearby, holding one or two snails, sucking them with gusto. They were still not satisfied after sucking them once, and wanted to suck them again. This was obviously not their customer base, but Li Xiaohan didn't care.

It was a mother who suddenly made up her mind and said, "Give me a spoonful of fried snails. My baby has been very hot these days and has no appetite. I think these babies are quite delicious."

When the woman said this, Li Xiaohan refused to sell it, "Auntie, this pepper is irritating. Children have weak stomachs and cannot eat too much, as they are prone to diarrhea."

"Why am I having diarrhea? Is it unclean?" the aunt asked in surprise.

"Auntie, how can we sell unclean things? Did you see that Qinggang Xiaomao brother just now? If they are not clean, they will have to come to me. I just want to say that this pepper is a bit like dogwood. People with weak stomachs can eat it and digest it. No, it's easy to have diarrhea."

"Oh, that's okay. My kid's intestines and stomach are very good. He often eats dogwood at home and he never has diarrhea. He is just fat and bitter." The aunt said, "Give me a spoonful. At worst, just let him eat it." A few, and the rest will be given to his father. I brought a bowl to buy tofu, so you have to give me a little more."

"Okay, aunt." Li Xiaohan filled a spoonful for the aunt, and then gave her the bottom of another spoon. The aunt was very satisfied, paid the money, picked up the bowl and left.

At this moment, the man onlookers seemed to suddenly have an epiphany, "Oh, my two children at home are suffering all day long, I have to give them a taste, just in case it will be better."

Li Xiaohan frowned and said, "Uncle, you are so young. Your baby is not big. You really can't eat small babies."

"Oh, it's okay, I'll give them one." The young man said with a smile, "What should I do if I don't bring a bowl?"

You see, this is something I want to eat, but I'm afraid my family will tell me when I buy it.

Li Xiaohan took out a moso bamboo tube from under the stall and filled it with a spoonful of fried field snails. This was a good dianthus moso bamboo tube, and it was not easy to make. However, there were no disposable bowls and chopsticks at this time, so this was the only way. , "We go out to the stall every five and ten. Next time when I bring back the moso bamboo tube, I can give you a stir-fried snail with the bottom of a spoon, just in case you get a bowl."

"Okay, got it." The young man said, paid the money, took the bamboo and left.

Someone was selling, and the selling gradually started. A big man shouted, "Miss Li, give me a bowl. I don't want that moso bamboo, so I'll eat it here."

Young people are ignorant and use the baby as an excuse, thinking that they will not be criticized by their mother-in-law when they go back.

Wrong. Say what you need to say, no less. It's better to eat here, hide it, and nothing will happen. You are young, but you have no experience.

The big man thought proudly.

"Hahaha, Brother Gao is still smart." Those who have been trained began to understand, "Miss Li, give me a bowl too."

For a while, three or five older men found an open space and half-squatted to suck up the snails.

It happened that the person buying bamboo stools in Pingshan Village was also there, so Li Xiaohan greeted him, "Brother Dazhi, can I give you three cents in rent and rent you six bamboo stools? If they make them dirty, we will pay for them separately."

"It's done, what's wrong?" Li Dazhi said cheerfully, and happily handed the bamboo stools to these people. If you rent it for half a day, you can earn an extra three cents, and the stains will be calculated separately.

So these big men sucked even more happily.

Suddenly, a clear child's voice shouted, "Dad, you ate it secretly without telling mother."

The men present all shrank and paused for a moment before reacting and turning their heads to take a closer look.

Phew, breathe a sigh of relief, it's not our baby.

The one who was called Brother Gao at the beginning said with a fierce face, "Shanba, why are you here? Is your mother here too?"

Shanwa is about six years old. "Mom is at home, I'm going out to play with everyone. Dad, I want to eat too."

Hearing that his mother-in-law was at home, Brother Gao escaped unscathed and generously handed over the bowl, "Eat it, don't tell your mother. If you don't know how to eat it, daddy will teach you, first suck the tail, then suck Head, suck it and it will come out."

Shanwa followed his father and sucked it several times, but he was so weak that he couldn't suck it out. "I can't suck it out, Dad."

"It's okay. You're young. Just call the sister and give you a bamboo stick and you can pick it out."

Shanwa ran over and took a bamboo stick, finally picked out the piece of meat and sucked it into his mouth.

"Is it delicious?"

"tasty!"

"Don't tell your mother, dad will bring you to eat next time."

"good."

"Brother over there, don't give your baby too much to eat. Just eat a few to try the taste." Li Xiaohan turned around and shouted.

"I know, I know." Brother Gao replied, "Did you hear that? If you eat more food in the future and grow taller quickly, you can eat more. No, the five here are you. Yes, the rest belongs to dad."

Brother Gao was delighted.

Suddenly, a baby next to me called out, "Uncle, what are you and Shanba eating?"

Brother Gao was shocked and turned around in disbelief, "Tuwa, why are you here?"

"I went out to play with Shanba. Uncle, I want to eat too, or I will tell aunt."

"Come on, eat. Did you hear what the sister just said? Children can't eat too much, and you are five, you know!" You can still leave some for yourself.

"Uncle, Shui Wa and the others are here too. The four of us came together." Tu Wa said while picking up a snail.

Brother Gao turned his head with difficulty and saw several of his own children around. He said that the mountain baby was so small, why would his mother-in-law be willing to let the baby out? It turned out that he was following his cousins. Come.

"Come on, eat, it's done."

Brother Gao can be called the hardest-working man of the year, and the big men around him speeded up.

For a while, there was only the sound of everyone immersed in breathing.

At this time, another group of big men poured in from the entrance of the West Market, shouting, "Where are the ones selling peppers and vegetables and the ones selling fried snails?"

"Here, here, big brother. Here." Li Xiaohan raised his face and waved.

"How do you sell these fried snails with pepper? How do you sell this spicy hotpot?"

"Stir-fried field snails cost two cents per spoon, meatballs cost four cents per skewer, soaked beans cost one cent per skewer, and vegetables cost half a cent per skewer. Brother, did you bring a bowl? If not, we have the bamboo tube, but we bought too much. There is no need to add a head to the bottom of the spoon. When the bamboo tube is returned, it can add a head to the bottom of a spoon."

"Okay, give me three spoons to fry the snails, two skewers of meatballs, and two skewers of bean dip. No green vegetables. Damn, I just went to the Qinggang to grab wine. I watched Ma Wu and Xiao Mao. I ate it sizzlingly, and drank a few sips of wine at the same time, which made me greedy. These stingy guys only gave me a taste and refused to give more. How much money did I give to their Qinggang gang for drinks? , I am short of his few mouthfuls of food."

"No, if you can buy it, I'll win him. Little girl, give me five spoonfuls of fried snails, two meatballs, and two vegetables."

Those who can buy wine are not those who are short of money and have enough to eat, so they are happy.

"Brothers, this is delicious. Why don't you buy some base ingredients and fry it yourself? We go out every five and ten, and if you want to eat it tomorrow, it will be gone."

"If you stir-fry the base ingredients yourself, it won't taste like this, right?"

"No, just raise the snails for two days, brush them clean, then cut off the tails, add the base ingredients, stir-fry the ginger, onion, and garlic, and finally add some perilla leaves to make it taste better. "

"Okay, then give me two pieces of that very basic ingredient."

…

This wave of drunkards has been consumed, and the pot of fried snails is gone. Li Xiaohan quickly stir-fried another pot.

By mid-noon, there were no more fried snails, but there was still a little bit of Malatang. Li Xiaohan and the other three finished eating, packed up their things, put the stalls, charcoal stoves and other large items on the oxcart, and asked the Qinggang to help. Storage.

"Miss Li, you're here. Come on, come on, push it to the backyard." Ma Wu, who was still guarding the shop from the Qing Gang, greeted Li Xiaohan and his companions when they saw their bullock cart approaching.

When he came in the morning, he had already agreed that Li Xiaohan would store his things with them after setting up the stall. Qinggang's shop is a structure with a front shop and a backyard. On weekdays, goods are stored in the backyard, and Ma Wu lives here. Therefore, putting a small cart or something, based on their current good cooperative relationship, is a natural thing.

"Brother Ma Wu, thank you. We'll come back in five days." Li Xiaohan and the other two moved their things in.

"Let me tell you, Miss Li, why do you have to do such hard work? Why don't you make clean and refreshing wine at home?" Ma Wu said with a little thought while helping to carry things.

Li Xiaohan didn't understand what he said, "Brother Ma Wu, does it taste good to eat my peppers?"

"It's delicious, it's really delicious." Ma Wu thought about the taste, and it was indeed endless aftertaste.

"As long as it's delicious. Brother Ma Wu, I left a bamboo tube for you. Don't dislike it. Let's go. See you next time." Li Xiaohan smiled and waved his hand.

"Oh, keep it for me." Ma Wu took the bamboo tube and looked around quickly.

What he and Xiao Mao bought together in the morning were robbed a lot by the group of people who robbed the wine, so he couldn't enjoy the meal. Okay, there was no one around now, so Ma Wu hid the bamboo tube in his arms.

This time he wanted it all to himself. Hey Hey.

It was not until the end of the day that Li Xiaohan and the other two returned home, feeling tired and hot. Wang's food was hot, but no one was interested in eating it.

"Hehua, don't go back. Take a shower here and let's eat something together later."

Occasionally, Li Hehua would stay overnight. The Li family had newly expanded their house and left a room for her. Li Hehua also kept her clothes here.

"Okay, Sister Xiaohan."

The two little sisters took a shower in the backyard, and Li Xiandong took a shower in the front yard. Then Mrs. Wang served the food, and only a few of them had the appetite to eat.

After finishing the meal, the three Zhaos had already gone home to do housework. The door to the front yard was closed, and there were only a few members of the Li family in the backyard. Li Xiaohan poured the money he received today from the money bag onto the table. There was a clatter, a pile of copper coins piled together, and a new one. Old ones, clean ones with oil and fumes.

It was the first time that Li Hehua saw making so much money, and her eyes lit up. When selling wine, she wisely avoided it.

"Come on, count the money." Li Xiaohan was also very excited. This was the beginning of a new career line.

"One Wen, two Wen, three Wen... one hundred Wen... two hundred Wen... three hundred Wen... four hundred Wen..., a total of four hundred and eighty-two Wen." The two worked together. , counting and wiping the copper coins clean, and finally stringing them together.

"Let me take a look," Li Hehua spread out the book. "Based on the cost of twenty cash per kilogram of pepper, that's forty cash. All kinds of spices are about forty cash. There are also lard and pork fat." The pork cost one hundred and eighty cents. In other words, we made a net profit of three hundred and two cents this time."

As soon as this number was calculated, Li Hehua's eyes sparkled. Oh my gosh, it's so profitable. Three hundred articles Hey!

"Lotus, this number can't be calculated like this. First of all, although the snails and vegetables are fished from the river and picked from the vegetable garden, they also cost money, so the cost of this piece must be deducted. Come on." Li Xiaohan added the cost of thirty Wen to Li Hehua's notebook.

"Also, the carts, charcoal stoves, coal and other things we bought have to be considered in cost. I plan to use them for a year, so the cost will be allocated to 40 cents per day."

"Finally, there are three of us. My dad fishes and washes the snails, and we prepare the ingredients for stir-frying. Including most of the day today, it took at least three full days of work. The labor cost also has to be found. We are here Counting skilled workers, one person is worth fifteen cents a day, so that's one hundred and thirty-five cents."

"The remaining ninety-seven yuan is the money we have earned these days."

"Ah, it's only ninety-seven yuan."

Although ninety-seven cents is a lot more than before, the gap is also too big.

Moreover, they are doing an exclusive business, so it seems like they are making hard money.

"Actually, if we want to subdivide it further, we make the least money out of the field snails, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Especially, we give away many of them for free, and we can't even make back the hard work. Secondly, vegetable skewers You can't make much money, even half a penny is enough for you to put away. The most profitable thing is the base material, a piece the size of your palm is already twenty pence."

"This is, in fact, 80% of our money is earned from 20% of the base material."

"However, there is no fried snails, no vegetable skewers to open up the market, and no one buys the base ingredients at all. Therefore, fried snails and Malatang are actually our promotional expenses. When everyone accepts it, we will only buy the base ingredients. This It's easy to make money."

"When the time comes to earn exclusive business, then money will flow in like water. Think about it for yourself."

Li Hehua was dumbfounded because there were so many connections here.

"Your salary is forty-five cents. From today on, if you make a profit, you can also receive money."

"I'm actually rich? I'm just following suit."

"Of course, when you pay, you have to pursue gains. You may gain now or you may gain in the future. What you have learned well, it's time to harvest."

Li Xiaohan smiled and patted Li Hehua on the shoulder, "I'm going to take a nap in the afternoon, and you should also take a rest. Everyone is very tired these days. Resting is for better travel, and making money is for better work." Life."

Li Hehua was stunned again. There were so many things that she couldn't understand.

"It's okay, think about it slowly." Li Xiaohan comforted.

Li Xiaohan is really tired. She just wants to sleep now.

=== Chapter === 76

When Li Xiaohan said she was sleeping, she was really sleeping. From spring plowing to now, even though she appeared very confident to the outside world, the pressure of planting so many acres of peppers at once was always on her mind. The plot timeline was catching up with her every moment to remind her of the path to take. It needs to be fast and stable, and there is no time for mistakes to be corrected.

He constantly collects everyone's tastes and adjusts every detail. It seems to come naturally effortlessly, but only Li Xiaohan knows how much thought he put into it.

It wasn't until this moment that Li Xiaohan finally settled down after seeing with his own eyes that everyone in the city began to accept peppers for cooking.

On this path, the most critical part has been cleared at the beginning, and you can just follow the plan from now on.

Li Xiaohan slept for more than an hour from midnight to midnight. When Wang, Li Hehua and others passed by the main house, they subconsciously slowed down their steps.

"Auntie, I'm going back first, and I'll come back tomorrow morning." Li Hehua said to Mrs. Wang.

Li Xiaohan fell asleep, but Li Hehua didn't. She lay on the kang, thinking about Li Xiaohan's words over and over again. She felt like she understood it, but she didn't seem to understand it.

Finally, the more she thought about it, the more confused she became, so she simply got up to work, sorted out the previous pepper data, and calculated the cost and profit this time.

As the calculations continued, not only did the data become clearer, but Li Hehua's mind gradually came to a clearer conclusion: When it was time for Sister Xiaohan to harvest, she was not there yet.

After she figured it out, she calmed down and concentrated on her work. But Li Xiaohan was sleeping soundly, and no one was willing to disturb her. After Li Hehua finished her work for the day, she reluctantly said goodbye and went home. She still has a lot to say to Sister Xiaohan.

"Okay, you go back first. You have been tired during this period. Have a good sleep. It doesn't matter if you come later tomorrow." Wang said.

Her belly is already very obvious. Because she is older and has been pregnant with this child for many years, she has to be a little more cautious, so she can only help with some light logistical work on weekdays, whether it is making wine or making wine. The pepper base is made by Li Xiaohan, Li Hehua and Li Xiandong.

As Wang's mother, she couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken. She took on such an important responsibility at such a young age. Although Li Xiaohan didn't show it on weekdays, Wang saw it after all. Nowadays, it is rare to take a nap at noon, so Wang let Li Xiaohan sleep, and he would wake up naturally after sleeping enough.

Sure enough, at the end of Shenshi, Li Xiaohan woke up and turned around. He felt that his whole body and limbs were soft from this sleep, and his mind was blank for a while before he realized where he was and stretched out his arms. He walked out of the room lazily.

It was already dusk and the sun was setting, and the last rays of light shone in the yard, a golden color. Tired birds returned to their nests and smoke was everywhere.

"You're awake, are you hungry? Do you want to eat? Do you want a bowl of soup?" Wang heard the door closing and poked her head out of the kitchen to ask.

"Well, I'm awake." He touched his stomach and said, "I'm not hungry, but I'm a little thirsty."

"Then I'll give you a bowl of soup. You can drink it first. When your father comes back, we'll have dinner." Wang said, quickly filling a large bowl of soup for Li Xiaohan.

The soup is bitter gourd tube bone soup, made from tube bones bought from Fucheng, bitter melon and edamame grown in the vegetable patch in my backyard. Bitter melon is a vegetable that has been widely cultivated in this era. It just has a unique taste. People who love it love it very much, and people who hate it hate it very much.

Li Xiaohan's family of three all likes the taste. In this hot summer, a pot of tube bone bitter melon and edamame soup is both nourishing and relieving the heat. Everyone feels comfortable after eating it.

Li Xiaohan took the soup from Wang's hand and asked, "Where is dad?"

"Your father took the bucket to catch snails. He will be back soon." Wang glanced at the sky and said.

Li Xiaohan sipped the soup while waiting for her father to come back.

Mrs. Wang's guess was correct. Before Li Xiaohan finished his bowl of soup, Li Xiandong had already returned with a bucket. Quickly pour the snails in the bucket into a large wooden plate, change the water, and add a little salt, so that the raised snails will be clean.

Speaking of which, after the Li family moved to Erjin Courtyard, the most inconvenient thing was that the distance to get water from their own well was far. Li Xiaohan thought about digging another well, but thinking about the effort of just opening a door in the middle, it seemed that Li Xiandong and Wang didn't mind too much.

Of course Li Xiandong didn't mind. He walked quickly. It only took a dozen steps to carry water from the well in the front yard to the water tank in the backyard. There was no need to spend this money.

"Dad, you touched a lot of snails today?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"All the children in the village are here today. They helped to catch it." Li Xiandong said.

The crisscrossing rivers and waterways in the village are clear and shallow. When the weather is hot in summer, children like to dive into the water. The children in the village are raised wildly, and as long as they don't go into the Qingshui River, they can play whatever they want.

Seeing Li Xiandong touching the snails with a bucket, the children in the village helped Li Xiandong touch them half playing and half working. There is no need for any reward, anyway, it is for Sister Xiaohan to touch. During the Chinese New Year, Sister Xiaohan treated them to a lot of food.

Li Xiaohan was thoughtful.

Li Xiandong raised the snails, and the family had dinner in the yard. The evening breeze was blowing gently, the remaining trace of skylight, and the occasional chirping of birds and cicadas seemed peaceful and calm.

After finishing the meal, the dishes and chopsticks were put away. There was no entertainment activity this evening. Wang and Li Xiandong went to bed early.

Only Li Xiaohan couldn't sleep at night because he slept too much during the day. With his mind so clear, Li Xiaohan simply recalled the plot: In order to prevent himself from forgetting, Li Xiaohan had a notebook to record major events in pinyin. On weekdays, he often combined with the things around him to think about the overall background of the plot and its impact on himself. The influence of one's own family, I'm afraid that if someone doesn't pay attention to it, it will become an unstoppable trend, and it will suddenly tear his own family into pieces.

Fortunately, Li Xiaohan ran through the plot in his mind, and he probably didn't miss anything:

Brother Xinhe has already been admitted to the Scholar School, and Uncle Deyou has also been admitted to the Tongsheng School. His cousin Li Cairong is still a white man. According to the plot, he will not be admitted to the Scholar School until the next year. He is not unique to be admitted to the Scholar School. If you are a scholar, your influence on your family will be limited;

It is now the twenty-fourth year of Taihe. By the twenty-sixth year of Taihe, the old emperor will collapse and King Ding will rebel. There are still two years left. The manpower, reputation, and wealth that I can reserve should be enough to withstand certain risks. ;

After confirming where he was again, Li Xiaohan found that the old home belonging to King Ding had never been successfully attacked, and later, after King Ding moved the capital back, Li Xiaohan felt that he could include buying a house in Fucheng into his plan. middle…

Thinking too much, he fell asleep vaguely, and Li Xiaohan got up early.

The sky has a little light, the morning stars are twinkling in the sky, and the early birds are singing from nowhere. In the main room next door, Li Xiandong and Wang have not moved yet.

Li Xiaohan pushed open the door of the room, took a deep breath of fresh air, and felt that his whole body was awake.

After quickly washing up and putting on a pot of porridge, Wang and Li Xiandong also got up.

"Why are you getting up so early? Why don't you sleep a little longer?" Wang asked as she approached the stove.

"I slept too much yesterday, so I got up early today." Li Xiaohan explained.

Mrs. Wang saw that Li Xiaohan was in good spirits, so she took over the work in front of the stove and said, "I will prepare breakfast. You can go and do other things."

There isn't much work that Wang can do now, and he can't interfere with the pepper matters, so he concentrates on the logistics, allowing Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong to worry about other things.

"It's done." Li Xiaohan stood up, thought for a while, stood up, picked up the small hoe, and went to the backyard vegetable patch where Sanqi seedlings were planted.

Before expanding the house, Li Xiandong took another sum of money and bought the one acre of land behind the house. Fortunately, when sowing at that time, the three or seven species had to be further back, otherwise they would have to be moved.

I squatted down and carefully observed this batch of Panax notoginseng growing in the vegetable field. They were carefully cared for by humans, and the water and fertilizer could keep up. Therefore, the overall growth was fatter and stronger than the batch sown directly in the forest. .

Li Xiaohan wanted to pull out the weeds in the ridges, but found that there were weeds everywhere. During this period of time, she was busy with peppers. The Panax notoginseng seedlings and the vegetable plot were all taken care of by the Wang family. Now there is not a trace of weeds in it.

After a round of inspection, he found that there were no weeds that could be removed. Li Xiaohan opened a wooden barrel next to him, which contained fermented rice washing water. There were no chemical fertilizers in this era, so Li Xiaohan could only try his best to think of ways. Use these homemade fertilizers that later generations said were useful. Li Xiaohan mixed some water with the Panax notoginseng seedlings and returned to the front yard.

Wang's food had been prepared, and the three of them gathered together to have breakfast.

"Dad, let's go up to the mountain in the morning and see how the Panax notoginseng looks like in the mountain. In two days, we will start frying the base ingredients again and go to the city." Li Xiaohan said.

"Okay, I'll go in with you after breakfast later." Li Xiandong replied while eating porridge with dried spicy turnips. Nowadays, the most indispensable thing in the Li family is various pepper dishes.

After breakfast, Li Hehua hasn't arrived yet. In the past, Li Hehua arrived after breakfast at Li Xian's house was almost over. Today, Li Xiaohan got up early, and the Li family also had breakfast early.

"Mom, dad and I went out. If the lotus flowers come, tell her to cut off the peppers. I'll be back soon."

"Sure, I understand. You go ahead."

Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong went into the mountains carrying baskets on their backs and small hoes. Walking into this mountainous area now, I feel a very different state of mind than about a year ago.

After growing for more than half a year, Panax notoginseng grows naturally in the mountains of Li Xiandong's home, blending in with the surrounding environment. If you don't look closely, you won't feel anything special at all. Even if there is Sanqi here, others don't believe it. Just ordinary mountain weeds and vines, nothing special.

However, Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan knew clearly at a glance where these Panax notoginsengs grew and what they looked like. They basically knew in their minds.

Although they look irregular, the Panax notoginseng in this mountainous area is actually carefully maintained.

For example, there may be other plants next to Panax notoginseng, but if it is not a climbing vine, its roots are far away, or if it is not a moss-type plant with shallow roots, make sure that there is a distance of half a meter around it, and there will be no strong or strong plants with Panax notoginseng. Compete for nutrients.

Carefully observe whether there are any pests or diseases. Maybe this landscape is indeed suitable for the growth of Panax notoginseng, so both the survival rate and the growth rate are quite gratifying.

This is basically wild Panax notoginseng, with at most a little manual intervention. To grow so well, a suitable environment is more powerful than human efforts.

"Xiaohan, come here." Li Xiaohan was satisfied when suddenly Li Xiandong's low and anxious call came from not far away.

"Dad, what's the matter?" Li Xiaohan thought that Panax notoginseng had grown worms or had an accident, so he walked over quickly, only to see Li Xiandong pointing at a growing Panax notoginseng and saying, "Xiaohan, you Look at this Panax notoginseng plant, does it want to bloom?"

This Panax notoginseng plant has a stem growing from the top, and there seems to be a few flower buds at the top. It vaguely looks like a flower.

Li Xiaohan squatted down to take a closer look, and then said, "Dad, that's right, this Panax notoginseng tree is ready to bloom."

Before Li Xiandong could happily ask whether the seeds could be planted after they bloomed, Li Xiaohan had already picked off the flower stems neatly and said, "The flowers of this annual Panax notoginseng are called dream flowers. It only blooms but does not bear fruit, which is a waste of nutrients. It is better to pick it directly, which can also promote the growth of the root system. However, annual Panax notoginseng blooms rarely. If you see it in the future, dad, just pick it directly."

"Sure, I understand." Li Xiandong is also an old farmer. He was just happy and forgot about it for a moment. After calming down, he naturally understood that the seedling has not grown up yet, and the flowers will bloom in the air. Bad reasoning.

The father and daughter took another round of inspection and found two more Dream Flowers. They picked them all, and after confirming that there were no other problems, they left home.

When she got home, Li Hehua was already cutting peppers. When she saw Li Xiaohan coming back, her eyes lit up, "Sister Xiaohan."

Li Xiaohan said, "You get busy first, I'll change my clothes and come out again."

There is a lot of dew on the mountain and it is easy to get dirty. I am wearing old clothes that have been mended in previous years. Now they are wet and clinging to my body, which is very uncomfortable. Li Xiaohan naturally changed into the clothes he wore at home and did things comfortably.

When Li Xiaohan changed his clothes and sat aside, Li Hehua was already eager to share, "Sister Xiaohan, I thought about it all day yesterday, and I'm not tired yet. I don't want to enjoy it either. I'm all over the body now. I just want to save this money and buy a land like you. I always feel that I bought a piece of land and wrote my own name on it, and then I feel that I have roots. ."

Li Xiaohan glanced at Li Hehua in surprise and smiled, "I thought wrong. I was like this, so I thought you were tired too. It's good that you think so. , you do what you think."

"Sister Xiaohan, don't you object?"

"I don't object, why should I object." Li Xiaohan suddenly understood his weight in Li Hehua's heart, and said more cautiously, "Hehua, this is your life, you have the right to do it yourself You make your own decisions. If you feel tired, rest. If you have rested enough, move on. I include many people in your life, your parents, your brothers and sisters, your teachers and friends, and your future husband. No child can decide your life for you."

"If there is one thing I want you to remember the most, it is that when you decide your own life, others are just suggestions."

"Yes. Sister Xiaohan, I remember it." Li Hehua said seriously.

"Okay, no need to be so serious." Li Xiaohan said, "Tell me, do you really want to buy land?"

"Yeah. I really want to."

"Then you have to work extra hard."

"Uh-huh."

"Xiaohan, I'm going to catch snails." Li Xiandong in the tool room in the distance interrupted the conversation of the two little sisters and picked up a wooden bucket.

"Dad, you don't have to go. You can go and do other things. I'll find someone else to do the snail fishing." Li Xiaohan stood up and said, almost forgetting about it.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Looking for Erzhu, Brother Dou, Brother Gua and the others." Li Xiaohan replied.

Li Xiandong thought for a while and said, "That's okay. Anyway, the children in the village are soaking in the river ditch after going to school. Then I'll go and see how the fields are like."

"Well, dad, you go ahead. When school is over at noon and we have lunch, I will talk to Brother Dou and the others." Li Xiaohan said.

Li Xiandong changed his body to a convenient bunt and went to inspect the fields.

At noon, when he heard the sound of the gong for dismissal in the clan school, Li Xiaohan opened the door and shouted loudly, "Brother Dou, Brother Gua, Erzhu."

After a while, these children came shouting, "Sister Xiaohan, what do you want from us?"

"Did you help my dad catch the snails yesterday afternoon?"

"Yeah." A group of children nodded.

"Are you going to play after school today? You can continue to help me catch snails while you are playing. Wait until the afternoon of the 14th, and I will give you fried snails, okay?"

"Is it the one you fried yesterday morning, Sister Xiaohan? The one that tastes very fragrant and spicy?" Erzhu asked.

The smell coming out of Sister Xiaohan's house yesterday was so fragrant. He could smell it in his dream, and he ate two extra bowls of rice for breakfast just because of the smell. The sweet pepper dishes made by her mother are not as delicious as those made by Sister Xiaohan.

"Yes, it's the smell you smelled yesterday morning." Li Xiaohan said

"Then how much will you give us?" Erzhu said. He is now a big kid and has learned that giving is giving and a transaction is a transaction. Before the transaction, you must make it clear first, otherwise you will get into big trouble if you agree to things randomly or sign randomly. It is very scary that you will be sold.

"Well, no matter how much you make, I will give you a tenth of the money on the night of the 14th." Li Xiaohan thought about it and said.

"Sure, then it's settled. We'll bring it to you every night. Sister Xiaohan, please write it down."

"You can't fish in the Qingshui River! I won't look for you when I get to the Qingshui River." Li Xiaohan warned.

"I got it. Sister Xiaohan, don't be as verbose as my mother!" Erzhu ran away quickly with a group of children.

Li Xiaohan was speechless as he watched these little guys running away in quick succession.

How dare you call her nagging.

Returning to the house angrily, Li Hehua said, "Sister Xiaohan, don't worry, they don't dare to go into the Qingshui River. The adults saw it and whipped them. In the past few years, my brother and the others secretly went into the Qingshui River without Erzhu. Help the little baby, Erzhu and the others will file a complaint. My brother and the others were severely beaten. Now none of them dare to go into the Qingshui River, they all stare at each other and wait to sue the adults. Hahaha."

Li Xiaohan looked puzzled, what kind of injustice is this and when will it be repaid? However, don't worry about them going down the Qingshui River.

After a while, Li Xiandong came back with a straw hat. His red face was covered with oily sweat. While fetching water from the well to wash his face, he said, "The patriarch said that taxes have to be paid this summer. If you use The grain tax credit is still the same as before, but if you want to use silver to offset the tax, you have to pay 10% more."

The summer tax is a tax on wheat fields that have just been harvested.

"10%?" Li Xiaohan almost thought he heard wrongly, "Why is it so much more expensive to deduct taxes with silver than before?"

"It is said that food prices are high this year." Li Xiandong said.

"Why is that so? The weather has been smooth this year and the harvest is obviously very good." Li Xiaohan said doubtfully.

Generally speaking, in the peaceful and prosperous times, the price of food was low in the good years, and I still remember the story of charging three to five dou more than before, but the money sold was not as much as before.

Is there something happening that you don't know about? Li Xiaohan frowned and thought.

"Then wouldn't everyone pay for food instead of money?"

"Yes. Everyone in the village said that paying for food is the most cost-effective, and everyone is ready to pay for it." Li Xiandong said while washing the mud off his feet, "I have to go take a look again in the afternoon."

Go and have a look at Li Xiaohan's 80 acres of land farmed by tenant farmers.

Li Xiaohan understood what Li Xiandong was referring to and said, "Dad, I will go take a look with you this afternoon."

=== Chapter === 77

After lunch, when the sun was not so fierce, Li Xiandong drove Li Xiaohan in a bullock cart to visit her eighty acres of land and ask about the tax payment situation there.

Li Xiaohan's eighty acres of farmland is located in a village called Luozhuang Village under the Luoshan Mountains. Many people in this village have mixed surnames, but the first family that settled here back then was named Luo, so they called it Luozhuang Village.

Luozhuang Village has a good geographical location and fertile land, but unfortunately there are many people with mixed surnames in the village. There were a lot of fights at that time. Instead of a strong surname clan emerging from the battles with each other, it became increasingly declining because of the fights with each other.

In addition, the geographical location is so good that it attracts the attention of some landlords to hoard land.

Originally, the world was like this. People's ability to withstand risks was extremely poor. Sometimes the clan acted as a deterrent to the outside world and a kind of guarantee to the inside. Luozhuang Village did not have this, so it gradually became weak. If something unexpected happens, they can only save themselves by selling their land. Gradually, most of them become landless tenant farmers, who can only survive by paying rent on their land.

Like the Li family, the clan is particularly powerful. When Li Dashu's family had an accident and fell from a tree, they went to Renhetang for medical treatment and borrowed money from the clan.

Later, Li Dashu's family insisted on selling their fields to raise money to buy ginseng to save their lives. The fields they sold were also bought to the tribesmen, and not a single bit of them left the village.

Even so, Li Dashu's family of three men and the mountainous land allocated by the clan could grow fruit trees to supplement the income, so they did not become tenant farmers.

Now, when Professor Li Xiaohan is harvesting and processing Eucommia ulmoides, Li Dashu and his family have even replaced their cattle.

If you are a member of the Luo clan, at the beginning of the first round, there is no clan to borrow money from, so you have to sell your land to raise money to save your life.

Then the price offered by outsiders is still low, and it becomes a vicious cycle. It depends on luck to survive the difficulties.

Even if the situation is finally cured by luck and you no longer have your own land, most of the harvest from the tenant fields will be used to pay rent, and without accumulation, it will be even more difficult to turn over.

Such a village has less connections and cohesion than the Pingshan Village where the Li family is located, so naturally no information can be found. It's just to confirm that this year's summer taxes will be the same. They will pay grain as in previous years, or add 10% of silver to offset the tax with silver.

The tenant farmers told Li Xiaohan anxiously that they had always used grain to deduct taxes in previous years, and they were preparing to do the same this year because they had no money.

This year's wheat harvest has been dried, weighed and put into the warehouse. After the village chief ordered to pay the tax, the 60% grain rent that should be paid to Li Xiaohan was sent to Li Xiaohan.

According to the old rules from previous years, after Li Xiaohan continued, the tenant farmers and Li Xiaohan would be divided into 40 and 60 shares. Li Xiaohan and his predecessor, who accounted for 60%, can be regarded as generous owners.

Li Xiaohan sighed and couldn't find out anything more, so he went home with Li Xiandong.

This place made her feel uncomfortable. This world is too cruel, and she is too weak to save the world, so she can only cover her eyes and stop looking.

On the way back, Li Xiaohan was slightly silent. The summer sun shone on the body, making it very hot. The sweat on his forehead kept coming out, but Li Xiaohan's face looked a little cold.

"Dad, why do they call me the owner's wife?" After a long silence, Li Xiaohan suddenly asked. This owner was called her by the tenant farmers, which was beyond her scope of knowledge.

"Oh, I didn't know that before. The housekeeper told me when I went to apply for the land deed. The main household is the household with land, and the customer is the overseas resident household without land. These tenant farmers rent you If you own the land, you should be addressed as the owner's wife." Li Xiandong explained.

This fucking world.

Li Xiaohan's face became even colder. So much so that when they went back, they still hadn't adjusted yet, causing Wang and Li Hehua to think something had happened, so they asked Li Xiandong privately.

Li Xiandong shook his head, also looking confused. Why am I suddenly not very happy?

Unfortunately, a few people couldn't guess it. When Li Xiaohan saw their cautious faces, he realized that his emotions were a little out of control. He smiled bitterly and explained, "I just feel that this world is difficult, and everyone has a hard time living." not easy."

She gets 60%. She is also a generous owner.

Hearing Li Xiaohan say this, Li Xiandongfang probably guessed why it was because he was still a young and easy-hearted child. "What's the point? In this world, everyone has their own difficulties. If you want to have a good life, It's not easy to live or live well. Don't think so much, just be yourself."

Li Xiaohan thought about it, maybe it was.

Even in future generations, it does not mean that everyone's life will be happy. When she came, those young people were all out of the sky, just to find a relatively better job; not to mention the middle-aged people, some were old and some were young, and they still had mortgages and car loans.

It is not easy for everyone to maintain their own situation, and it is even more difficult to live a better life than before.

After convincing himself a little, Li Xiaohan turned his attention back to himself.

However, this is another worry. Why did this summer tax become like this?

Not finding the answer, it was like there was a question weighing on her mind. There was an unknown that was beyond her understanding, making her feel vaguely uncontrollable.

Even if you understand the background of the plot, you are not omniscient and omnipotent.

Li Xiaohan comforted himself that what he could do was to strengthen himself faster. Only when you are strong can you resist this kind of risk that comes from nowhere and has unknown consequences.

Li Xiaohan convinced himself, and began to adjust his mentality and devote himself to work, "Lotus, let's make a sweet and spicy chili sauce today."

This is a new flavor Li Xiaohan came up with. Last time, Malatang was not as popular as fried escargots. In fact, except for the meatballs, the price of Malatang is about the same as that of fried escargots. Especially all kinds of vegetables are more energy-efficient than fried escargots. I'm full.

However, in the end, the Malatang was left over, and they ate some of it themselves, and finally gave Ma Wu a bamboo tube before consuming it all.

Li Xiaohan thought for a while, maybe it was a matter of positioning and taste. In terms of irritation, the taste of fried snails and Malatang were too similar, and Malatang didn't taste as good as fried snails. Interesting.

Especially for men, fried escargot is indeed more suitable when paired with wine. The popularity of fried field snails with beer in food stalls in the previous life has proven this truth.

In this case, let's mix a different seasoning and open up another market with Malatang.

This seasoning cannot consume too much oil or water, otherwise the cost will be even higher, but it must be unique. Li Xiaohan thought of the ketchup, sweet chili sauce, and chili sauce in the convenience supermarket in his previous life. Without tomatoes, there is not much difference in pure chili sauce, so it will be sweet and spicy.

Remove the seeded pepper skin and stir-fry it in a slightly heated pot until it is crispy. Then put it into a medicine stone and grind it into powder. Finally, cook the batter, add chili powder, add icing sugar, and stir evenly. The finished product will be a The dough is bright red.

Li Xiaohan dipped his chopsticks into it to test the taste. It was slightly sweet and slightly spicy. The batter neutralized the pungent smell of the pepper, making the sweet and spicy sauce much softer.

Li Xiaohan nodded. Although he didn't know what the audience's final feedback would be, this soft, sweet and spicy taste was indeed different from the overbearing and choking spiciness of today's peppers.

"Hehua, try the taste." Li Xiaohan said to Li Hehua again.

Li Hehua also imitated Li Xiaohan's example, took a chopstick and dipped it in, then put it in his mouth to taste.

"This taste is so special. I like it." Li Hehua said with bright eyes. In the past, peppers were always very domineering in cooking, but now this one can be sweet, spicy, and very soft. I don't know how to describe it. Anyway, it's very special and she likes it very much.

Seeing Li Hehua's reaction, Li Xiaohan gave up and looked around. There were thick steamed buns made for lunch in the kitchen. Li Xiaohan broke open a steamed bun, dipped each bun in a little sweet and spicy sauce, and took it out to Zhao. His mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had a taste.

"It's delicious, this is quite delicious." said the three Zhaos. They have planted more than a dozen peppers in their vegetable garden, and they also like to eat spicy dried radish, fried peppers, etc., but Zhao Shi and others felt that this was different from the usual feeling of eating pepper.

The feedback from the three Zhaos gave Li Xiaohan some confidence.

However, this confidence was met by Li Xiandong, "It's not sweet enough, and it's not spicy enough. It doesn't feel very strong."

Li Xiaohan frowned slightly, just at this time, Erzhu, Dou Geer and the others came back from fishing for snails.

Li Xiaohan looked at the bucket of snails, and then at the group of people behind Erzhu and Brother Dou. It seemed that all the children in the village had come to catch snails for her.

However, I still have to ask, "You didn't go down to the Qingshui River, did you?"

"No." Erzhu and the others shook their heads wildly.

Li Xiaohan looked through the snails they caught. They were all quite big and very good. "Very good, we will follow this standard from now on. Today is the first day. In order to inspire everyone in the future, Sister Xiaohan invites everyone to Would you like to eat sweet chili sauce with steamed buns?"

"Okay." The children all cheered.

Although I don't know what sweet and spicy sauce is, the steamed buns are also very good. Sister Xiaohan's steamed bun noodles are ground very finely and are delicious.

Half a steamed bun per person. It's not that Li Xiaohan is stingy, it's just that her family doesn't have so many steamed buns. The weather is hot and she can't hold back if she makes too many buns. That's all, Wang is cooking in the afternoon to prepare for the next two days. This meal of greetings was all finished.

But it's not bad to see these kids eating to their satisfaction.

Erzhu and the others dipped some sweet and spicy sauce and half of the steamed bun, and finished it in a few mouthfuls. At this moment, they were reluctantly licking the bit of sauce on their fingers to savor the aftertaste. The Hua'er girls were much more polite, eating in small bites and cherishing them very much.

Judging from their performance, Li Xiaohan knew that the sweet and spicy sauce was suitable for children without asking.

Could it be that this sweet and spicy sauce is most suitable for women and children? But after thinking about it, it made sense, and Li Xiaohan felt relieved.

In a blink of an eye, it was fourteenth again. Early in the morning, the big man who sold pork brought suet and pork again. In the early morning, Li Xiaohan and his family started boiling suet and frying the base again. The base can be fried and preserved, so You can make time on the morning of the 15th and just fry the snails and go out.

However, the ones who suffered were the primary school students. Early in the morning, the aroma of boiled pork suet began to waft out. Fortunately, in the afternoon, the rich and overbearing aroma of the fried base wafted out, and Erzhu sat I vaguely heard it in the school, and my whole mind started to run away.

"Concentrate." The old gentleman drew a board ruler onto the table, pulling Er Zhu's attention back, and the other distracted students were shocked.

"Recite after me, the sky and the earth are dark and yellow, the universe is vast. The sun and the moon are waxing and waning, the stars and constellations are arranged..."

"The sky and the earth are dark and yellow, the universe is primitive. The sun and the moon are waxing and waning, and the stars and constellations are arranged..."

Finally, when the gong sounded for the end of the school day, the teacher turned around and left the school. The primary school students picked up their school bags and ran away without a trace.

"Sister Xiaohan, are our fried snails ready?"

"It's done, go home and get the bowl." Li Xiaohan said.

These kids go fishing for snails in the ditch every day. The adults in the family must know about it. Now that there are so many snails, it is not good for them to eat them by themselves. There are too many and they cannot bear it.

In less than a moment, the children all came running carrying their own bowls.

It's hard to tell who touched how many snails, so Li Xiaohan roughly divided them according to the number of people, "Although some of you touched more snails, and some touched less. But we are all good friends, the more powerful ones." The older brothers and sisters should help the younger brothers and sisters, and the younger brothers and sisters should say thank you to the older brothers and sisters, okay?"

"Okay!" The children responded in a hurry.

"Okay, Erzhu, I'll give you half the bowl." Erzhu is older, so the half bowl will be fuller.

"Hua'er, Niu'er, you two, I'll give you a bowl."

…

"Okay. This is the fruit of your labor. Take it back and share it with your family. Don't eat it secretly. It's not enough to eat it secretly. You have to prove to everyone that you are very powerful and you touched a lot of snails."

"Okay, Sister Xiaohan." When the children heard this, those who wanted to eat a few first swallowed their saliva and held back, and walked away with their heads held high.

"Leaving?" Zhao and others asked.

"Let's go." Li Xiaohan said, "I didn't expect these children touched so many snails. Tomorrow morning, I have to ask Aunt Zhao, Aunt Ye and my aunts to come over to help clean and deal with the snails."

The weather is hot now, so I clipped the snail tails and fried them tomorrow morning. Li Xiaohan was afraid that they would spoil, so he chose to get up early and clip the snail tails and fry them now. Although he was a little tired, he at least felt at ease.

"That's no problem. We'll be here early tomorrow morning. The crowd will be dealt with quickly, so we won't delay your trip to Fucheng." If you want to make money, you must hurry up early, Zhao said happily.

Early the next morning, it was still dark, and with only the faint light of the morning star, the Li family house came alive. Those who sandwiched the snails, those who skewered the vegetables, and those who fried the snails all divided their labors and cooperated. They were so busy that they quickly completed the preparations.

At the beginning of Chenshi, Li Xiandong drove an ox cart, Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua sat behind the ox cart, holding several large buckets of ingredients, and began to slowly set off towards Fucheng.

"There are so many things, and there are even two barrels more snails than last time. Can they be sold out?" Ms. Zhao was a little worried.

Can it be sold out?

At this moment in the city, the tall brother who shared a bowl of snails with his children on the 10th was severely scolded by his wife. He was alone with four children in a circle chatting about snails. He was so conspicuous that his neighbors had already noticed him and told him.

"Dad, let's go eat snails again? The stall owner said they would come every five days. I counted, and it's today." Ever since she ate the snails, Tuwa has been thinking about it for several days.

Brother Gao took a peek at his wife and whispered, "No, your mother doesn't agree. Only if your mother agrees can we eat. Please go and beg your mother."

Tuwa then went to ask his mother, "Mother, mother, mother."

Madam Gao's wife glared at her husband, who was such an unreliable man, "Okay, don't shake my mother, you promise me, if you eat this snail, you will eat well, you know?" ?"

If her child hadn't really developed an appetite after eating snails and became more active in eating, she would definitely not have agreed.

"Okay. I promise mom. I will eat well." Tuwa promised.

The lady of the Gao family picked up a Tao Wan and went out.

"Mother Tuwa, you're here to buy these fried snails too." When I arrived at the Western Market, I met someone familiar!

"Yes, my boys and children like it. They say it is more refreshing than dogwood after eating it. It's hot today and my child has a bad appetite, so I just bite the bullet and add another dish." Gao's wife explained.

"Oh, your family is like that too, and my kids are like that too. Let me tell you, that stall owner also sells the pepper base, which costs twenty cents a piece. It's made from good lard and can be fried several times. It's much more affordable than buying the fried snails directly, and it can be stored for a long time, so you don't have to wait for them to come and set up a stall every five or ten years." The aunt who talked to me recommended.

"Really, then I'll have to take a look later. If that's the case, it's still more economical to buy the base material."

"No."

A few women chatted and went to the Western Market together to buy fresh and cheap vegetables. After a while, Li Xiandong and his daughter came driving a bullock cart.

A group of women watched Li Xiaohan set up a stall, watched Li Xiaohan and others set up a pot to light the fire, watched Li Xiaohan pour the base ingredients into a pot of plain water... Originally they just wanted to buy some fried escargots. Or base material, I frowned slightly when I saw this, this is too simple.

When Li Xiaohan took the cabbage, lettuce, taro and cabbage out of the boiling spicy pot, cut it into thin pieces with scissors, then poured in the sweet and spicy sauce, stirred it a little, and inserted a bamboo skewer into it. It's time to taste it at home.

As soon as the women ate, their eyes lit up.

This is so delicious and convenient!

In this summer, who wants to work in front of the stove for three meals a day, smoky and full of oil and sweat?

As a result, after working so hard to make it, the elders and younger men in the family said it was bitter and tasteless.

I just want to curse.

This pepper base is so convenient. Just boil some water and throw the base in, then throw the vegetables in, and finally cook them, take them out and mix them. If you're not full enough, just make some steamed buns, pancakes, rice and noodles as your staple food.

Save more worry and trouble.

At that moment, most of the women changed their minds, "I don't want the fried snails. Give me a share of the spicy hotpot, and give me more of the batter."

"And give me two pieces of this base. Do you have this paste? How much does it cost?"

"Oh, it costs ten cents for a small bamboo tube. If you bring your own container, you can get an extra spoon base. Forget it, I only brought one bowl today, so bring me a small bamboo tube."

…

It was simply robbed.

Therefore, the man from Zhongfu City, who was happy at home but did not dare to show too much joy, waiting for his wife to come back from buying fried snails, only waited for a bowl of Malatang.

Although sweet and spicy ones are also delicious, stir-fried field snails are the most delicious. Especially if it can be paired with two sips of wine or a bowl of sour plum soup soaked in well water, it will be even more exciting.

"Baby, is it delicious?"

"It's delicious." Children represented by Tuwa don't have this problem. Malatang is also delicious, especially the red paste, which is a little sweet and a little spicy, so delicious.

"Eat it slowly with a steamed bun. It's delicious. Mom will make this for you tomorrow, okay?"

"That's great. Mom, you are so awesome." The dolls said with admiration.

"It's okay. I'm doing it all for you." The doll girl said, but no, it's all for the dolls. What's the point of spending some money?

By mid-noon, the fried snails were bought by the men who paired them with wine and various drinks, and the spicy hotpot and base ingredients were bought by the housewives. Only the last large portion was left, which was quickly put away by Li Xiaohan , put into a bamboo tube.

People who came later heard Li Xiaohan say with a smile, "No more, sold out, come early next time."

"No, I just had the last two, and I saw you put them away."

"Oh, that's for others." Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

"Can't let it go?"

"I really can't let it go." Li Xiaohan was embarrassed, but Li Xiaohan did not change his tune.

"Okay." The person turned around and left.

Who doesn't know that Qinggang is a big customer of this stall, and their pepper vegetables seem to be inextricably related to Qinggang's pepper wine. I can't afford to offend him, I can't force him to come. Now if I run faster, I can still get in touch with some good brothers.

It's all his fault that he was a little late because he had something to do before going out. He didn't expect this thing to sell out so quickly. You have to go earlier next time.

After seeing off the last customer, Li Xiaohan picked up two bamboo tubes and said, "Dad, Hehua and I will go to Qingshan Academy to give some to Xinhe brother to taste. Can you send the things to Qingbang? We will go to Qingbang later. The shop is looking for you."

Qingshan Academy is located on the edge of Fucheng. It is quiet and elegant. It is inconvenient for them to carry so many things there. They wait to drop off their things at Qingbang before rushing over, but they are afraid that it will be too late. Qingshan Academy will not be able to find Li after school. Shinwa. It's better for two people to run over with their things, it would be more convenient to go back and forth.

"Sure, then you and He Hua be careful." Li Xiandong said. The security in this city is good, and Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua are not afraid.

With Li Xiandong's consent, Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua ran to Qingshan Academy each carrying a bamboo tube.

Qingshan Academy is one of the landmarks of Fucheng. If you meet someone on the road and ask around, you will not be able to find it. When the two of them arrived at the gate of Qingshan Academy, they were just about to have lunch after school. Li Xiaohan asked someone to call Li Xinhe. come out.

"Xiaohan, Hehua, why are you here?" Li Xinhe heard that his sister was waiting for him at the door, so he hurriedly ran out and saw Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua. His heart tightened, thinking that something was going on at home. What happened.

Especially Li Xiaohan, who took a rest for ten days. Li Xinhe believed that Li Xiaohan would not come to him for any trivial matter for no reason.

"Brother Xinhe. We came to the city to sell food, so we will bring some for you." Li Xiaohan said, turning around and looking around. There was no one else around. "Brother Xinhe, this year's summer tax will be deducted from the grain tax at the same rate as in previous years." For example, if you use money to offset tax, you will be charged an additional 10%. Do you know this?"

"I don't know, has the tax collection been settled in the past few days?" Li Xinhe used to help Patriarch Li handle chores, so he naturally knows the tax situation. This year's harvest is good, and there is no big problem, but he has to collect more tax money. , this is indeed not normal.

"Well, in the past few days, I heard that food prices have increased this year." Li Xiaohan said.

"You guys go back first, I'll go back to the academy to inquire." Li Xinhe frowned and reassured, "Maybe something happened elsewhere, don't worry."

Qingshan Academy brings together the best students from around Fucheng, as well as the children of wealthy families. If there is any information, we should be able to find out.

Li Xiaohan just hoped that Li Xinhe would go and inquire about it. Maybe he could find out something. Even if he couldn't find out anything, it would be good to remind Li Xinhe and others to pay attention to it.

"Then Xin and Brother, let's go back. My father is still waiting for us in the West Market." After achieving his goal, Li Xiaohan was ready to withdraw.

"Be careful on the road, run slower, don't fall, and don't walk with strangers." Li Xinhe warned. Seeing that Li Xiaohan and Li Xiaohan had disappeared, he walked quickly back to the academy.

"Hey, Brother Xinhe, is this what your family brought to you?"

Qingshan Academy has a cafeteria. Li Xin and his meal were hurriedly called out, and a few people with him ordered the food for him. Seeing Li Xinhe come back with two large bamboo tubes, the people next to him asked curiously.

Li Xinhe put away his thoughts, raised a smile and said, "Yes, the clan sister in the family has developed fresh food, so she brought it to me to try. Let's try it together to see if it tastes good. They put it in Fucheng It's a stall."

Li Xin and Dafang said, took out two plates, poured out the food from the bamboo tube, and filled the two plates.

But, these succulent meatballs are okay, but how do you eat this snail?

"Ah, this stir-fried snail with sweet pepper. I had some business at home a few days ago and ate it with my dad. This food goes well with wine, which is perfect in summer. I didn't expect that it was actually made by brother Xinhe, your sister in the family. She is very clever and clever. ah."

While talking, a scholar next to him picked up a snail unceremoniously, moved his head and tail very skillfully, and sucked out the snail meat lightly and swiftly.

Ah, this is the taste, spicy, refreshing, and strong enough to dissipate the summer gloom.

Pair it with a sip of sour plum soup, it's refreshing.

This person didn't need Li Xinhe to greet him. He continued to eat one after another, and greeted everyone as if he was a guest, "Brother Xinhe, I'm not polite. Don't be polite, everyone, eat." Eat eat."

He is also from a wealthy family in Fucheng. Although he spent money to get in, he is still a child, and he is extremely smooth and enthusiastic, and he can get along well wherever he goes. He ate so happily that everyone believed him.

Li Xinhe hurriedly raised his chopsticks and called to everyone, "It's not a precious thing, but the peppers from the Western Regions are more novel. Let's give it a try."

The peppers from the Western Regions are indeed novel and worth trying in cooking.

So, after this trial, I couldn't stop, especially after reading all morning, my head felt dizzy and heavy, as if I had been stimulated to wake up by the spiritual platform.

"This pepper tastes really awesome."

"This fried field snail is spicy and fragrant. Add a sip of sour plum soup and it will be refreshing."

"This spicy hotpot is also very good. This is how to make the sauce. It's sweet and spicy. It's appetizing."

"Hey, you should be aware that we are late, so please leave some time for us."

"In matters concerning scholars, there is no order of priority. Those who are successful will get it first, and those who are successful will get it first."

"Yes, yes, first come first served."

Li Xiaohan didn't know that his pepper had already torn a hole in the high-end market in Fucheng. At this moment, when they returned to the Qingbang shop, they saw a middle-aged man who looked familiar to Li Xiandong. Standing at the door.

Li Xiaohan identified it carefully.

Shopkeeper of Tongfu Restaurant, what is he doing here? The share of the previous quarter was already given in early July.

Seeing Li Xiaohan coming from a distance, the owner of Tongfu Restaurant raised his smile and said, "Hello, Miss Li. I wonder if Miss Li is free. Can we find a place to chat?"

He stretched out his hand to avoid hitting the smiling man, but the shopkeeper of Tongfu Restaurant was waiting for him personally. He had to give him face no matter what, "Of course, shopkeeper please."

Ma Wu, who was just sneaking around in the shop and keeping an eye on him, had reached the peak of his uneasy premonition ever since he saw the owner of Tongfu Restaurant.

what to do?

Is the exclusive sale of their pepper wine no longer guaranteed?

=== Chapter === 78

Even though the shopkeeper of Tongfu Restaurant was smiling and squinting at Li Xiaohan, in fact, the shopkeeper was crying in his heart.

Some time ago, he finished reviewing the accounts for the second quarter, and was horrified to find that the profits of his restaurant had dropped.

Fell!

This has not happened for many years. Tongfu Restaurant is standing in Fucheng. What is as famous as its reputation is the profit of the restaurant.

The shopkeeper immediately suspected someone of corruption because he was in the restaurant every day and there were many customers, so someone must be playing tricks on him.

The shopkeeper summoned the accounting clerk overnight and they checked the accounts together.

The shopkeeper originally doubted the accountant, but on the one hand, the accountant is an old man and knows that the owner of his restaurant will not make such a mistake of losing his life for money. Secondly, the shopkeeper still understands the level of the accountant. If it is the accountant, Corruption and false accounting will not be so obvious that you can see it at a glance.

Therefore, the accountant is currently outside the shopkeeper's suspects. The shopkeeper is suspicious of the kitchen, which has inflated the cost. Especially since food prices in Fucheng have increased recently, the shopkeeper suspected that the kitchen was using this excuse.

The dog is so courageous that he didn't notice that the price of rice and food has increased, but the price of meat and vegetables has not increased much. How much of the cost of rice and food in Tongfu Restaurant is accounted for, and he actually dared to fool his shopkeeper. The shopkeeper has already torn apart the man who reported false accounts a hundred times in his heart, and he is just waiting for the evidence to be found and he will execute it immediately.

The accountant came very quickly. The data in the account book came from the accountant's hand. Due to professional relationships, the accountant was naturally more sensitive to data. He almost suspected that he had done something wrong with this quarter's account, but he checked it again and found that it was correct.

The two checked their heads and found that the cost of rice grains had indeed increased, but this increase was normal, and this increase was very different from the falling profits, so it was not the main reason for the falling profits. The suspicion in the kitchen was lifted.

The two checked the accounts in detail, and finally found that the main reason for the decline in profits was that the sales of alcoholic beverages had dropped, especially in June, where the drop was very obvious.

The shopkeeper didn't understand. Tongfu Restaurant's wine distribution channels had always been stable, so there would be no problem with the quality. How could it suddenly stop being sold?

To be on the safe side, the shopkeeper even went to the wine cellar to taste them one by one. There was no problem with the quality of the various wines, which was better than before.

Now that I have found out, I can no longer hide the problem with the restaurant's accounts. Didn't I see that the shopkeeper and the accountant have been whispering behind closed doors for several days? They first went to see the kitchen and then the wine cellar. , now the shopkeeper looks at everyone with suspicion. Everyone is sure that they are not the rat shit, and they suspect that others are the rat shit.

"Waiter." The waiter was called in under such circumstances.

"It's not me, shopkeeper. I didn't do anything." As soon as he came in, the waiter shouted that he was wronged.

"It's because you didn't do anything." The shopkeeper was angry. There was no problem with the quality of the wine, but it was a human problem. "Tell me, why didn't the customers buy much wine this June? Is it you? Too lazy."

"No, shopkeeper, I've always worked very hard," the waiter complained. He worked harder than before in June, but the wine couldn't be sold. "But the guests all brought their own drinks."

"What, you brought your own drinks? What drinks did you bring?" asked the shopkeeper.

What new famous wine? He has been paying close attention to several famous wineries. He has not heard of any recent breakthroughs or new products. Could it be that you were hiding it from him? Drinks have always been the bulk of profits. If this was the case, he would have to investigate carefully.

"It's the pepper wine produced by Qinggang. They were fine before, with a small output and no impact. Starting in June, for some reason, the supply suddenly increased, and more customers brought their own." The waiter cautiously said asked, "Shopkeeper, have you heard of that pepper wine?"

"Are you sure it's the pepper wine? That's right?" the shopkeeper asked with a frown.

"It can't be wrong. I can see it for real." The waiter confirmed by patting his chest.

"Will you go out first?"

When the waiter left, the shopkeeper had a sad face.

He knows about the pepper wine. Miss Li came over not long ago to pay her share of the second quarter.

What was I thinking at that time, oh, Miss Li's business is doing pretty well, many times more than in the first quarter.

Of course, although it is many times larger, in the shopkeeper's perception, this size is still incomparable to those famous wineries.

What did I say at that time, oh, I asked Miss Li as a routine if she wanted to supply Tongfu Restaurant, and Miss Li also said as a routine that the production could not keep up, thank you to the shopkeeper.

Regret! Hate it!

The shopkeeper almost turned his thighs blue, and secretly sent someone to Qinggang to buy two jars of wine. Now that Qinggang has a good supply of wine, it's not hard to get a bottle of wine.

I hated it even more after drinking it.

Why is Miss Li so humble and not praising herself for such a fresh and powerful wine? How can you bear to make only a few hundred jars every month to supply the Youth Gang? This can definitely make it bigger and stronger.

However, no matter how much he regretted it, the shopkeeper had nothing to do. After struggling for the past few days, it was time to hand over the ledger.

The shopkeeper had no choice but to hand over the account book first and then wait for the arrangements from above.

Of course, during this period, the shopkeeper has already made plans for the future, ranging from the next three months to the next three years, so that he can show his loyalty to his superiors and atone for his sins.

The shopkeeper's information was correct. Zhang Fu soon discovered that there was a problem with Tongfu Restaurant's quarterly accounts. The shopkeeper was brought over to explain the reason.

The shopkeeper quickly explained to Zhang Fu the ins and outs of the matter, and talked about his future plans, ensuring that he would implement them according to his future plans, and the store's profits would definitely return to normal.

After finishing speaking, the shopkeeper anxiously waited for Zhang Fu's instructions.

But the strange thing is that after listening, Zhang Fu did not say whether he agreed or disagreed. Instead, he asked, "You have mentioned supplying wine to Miss Li, but Miss Li has always refused you because of insufficient manpower and low production?"

"Yes." The shopkeeper replied quickly. Although he didn't insist much when he asked, Miss Li refused very simply.

"Then you can ask Miss Li again." After a pause, Zhang Fufang continued, "Don't use your power to pressure others. Ask Miss Li how much she can provide, and we will accept as much as you want."

"Yes, Second Young Master." The shopkeeper was secretly surprised, and remembered what Miss Li said when she handed over the share, the share for the wife. Looking at this degree, you have to grasp it well.

"Once Ms. Li can supply it, you should pay close attention to the situation of this wine. Pay special attention to the acceptance by customers in different places and the possibility of promotion."

"Yes, Second Young Master."

This is the reason why the owner of Tongfu Restaurant appeared in front of Li Xiaohan.

When talking about things, we naturally have to find a place. Tongfu Restaurant is our own territory and we need to avoid suspicion. After the shopkeeper asked Li Xiaohan for his opinion, he found a teahouse and several people sat down to discuss together.

The teahouse is quite elegantly decorated, and the private rooms are more elegantly decorated than Tongfu Restaurant. The aroma of tea lingers. After the waiter served hot tea and snacks, he stepped away.

After taking a sip of hot tea, the shopkeeper said in a sincere tone that he hoped Li Xiaohan would supply goods to Tongfu Restaurant. The price was easily negotiable. There is no way , the relationship between supply and demand is like this.

After Li Xiaohan listened to what the shopkeeper said, his mind started spinning rapidly:

First of all, this is Tongfu Restaurant looking for me, and it is not that I am using Mrs. Zhang's reputation to force sales. Then most of my previous worries can be eliminated. And after all, I am still borrowing Mrs. Zhang's reputation, so I can't refuse anymore. Not good, so this can be done as an ordinary transaction.

Secondly, the situation is still unclear. Although according to the plot of the original book, the emperor will die soon. With the emperor and me suppressing him, Prince Ding does not dare to risk his rebellion by being accused of being unfilial. However, the fluctuation of food prices always makes people feel uncomfortable. If people are uneasy, it would be nice to have another way out.

Thinking this way, Li Xiaohan said, "To be honest with the shopkeeper, my pepper wine is made through secondary processing. Previously, it was restricted by the high price of peppers, so it was really difficult to use it. But now the peppers I grow are We have harvested a lot, so we can supply more to Tongfu Restaurant."

Hearing Li Xiaohan relent, the shopkeeper of Tongfu Restaurant breathed a sigh of relief, but before the breath fell into his stomach, he was lifted up again.

"However, I also want to explain that because this wine is a secondary process based on other wines, it is greatly affected by the original wine. That is, the quality of the original wine directly affects the quality of the pepper wine. Quality. The original wine I brewed before was always the wine from Lao Qiu's Tavern in Fucheng. I don't know if the shopkeeper can accept it."

The shopkeeper had heard about Lao Qiu's Tavern in the city, it was a small family wine shop. It is said that it has been passed down for several generations, but compared with the famous wineries that Tongfu Restaurant has been cooperating with, it is incomparable.

"Moreover, the price of food has increased recently, and I estimate that the price of wine may rise. The increase is not a big deal. I am afraid that the original wine will be out of stock, and then I may not be able to have a stable supply. I need all these." Let me explain it clearly to the shopkeeper first, so as not to cause any conflicts later."

This is very possible. Small family workshops generally cannot afford too much risk. If food prices rise sharply, the old Qiu family will indeed not dare to take the risk to stock up on wine.

However, their restaurant needs a stable supply of wine. For such a big restaurant, how can we explain to our customers that food prices have increased and our wine cannot afford the cost, so we won't sell it for the time being. This is not a joke.

The shopkeeper frowned and said tentatively, "Miss Li, what you just said is that your pepper wine is processed twice, and the quality of the original wine affects the quality of the pepper wine. If... I said if , Tongfu Restaurant provides the original wine and entrusts you to prepare it, what do you think?"

In this case, Ms. Li will only earn the price of the secondary processing. I wonder if people like Ms. Li who are so skilled in craftsmanship will find it offensive.

Of course Li Xiaohan didn't feel offended. Li Xiaohan burst into laughter in his heart. Of course that's okay. She doesn't need to bear the risk of the original wine. Even if war and food shortages affect the winemaking in the future, it's none of her business. At the moment, she can borrow the pepper materials and earn a high amount of processing fees. In the future, when she no longer makes wine, her peppers can be used as a base or saved, with little risk.

It is most suitable for a steady farmer like Li Xiaohan.

As expected of an old businessman for many years, the shopkeeper's idea simply touched Li Xiaohan's heart.

But he smiled in his heart, and Li Xiaohan didn't show any trace of it on his face, "The shopkeeper said this, so I naturally want to give him face. But you also know one thing. I provided wine to the Qinggang before, and then I gave it to the Qinggang." The supply is as usual, and I have not cut off Qinggang's goods for you, the shopkeeper. I hope the shopkeeper will forgive me, but I don't do exclusive business here."

"Miss Li is a person of faith. We who do business naturally understand this truth." The shopkeeper did not want to do exclusive business, but Qinggang. He used to do Fucheng exclusive business, but now he has more Tongfu The restaurant is a rival, and the losses are relatively large.

"Well, since that's the case, let's talk about this specific issue. According to my family's manpower, for now, I will do my best to support you, and I will give you a share of 200 jars a month at most. From my side You can make either pure wine or dark wine. I wonder which one you want, shopkeeper?"

"Can't there be more?" the shopkeeper asked, two hundred jars are not enough.

"No. I only have so many people at home, and I don't want to reveal the secret recipe yet." Li Xiaohan simply refused. This was not negotiable.

The shopkeeper looked at Li Xiaohan. Although the girl in front of him was not very tall, the shopkeeper was sitting in Tongfu Restaurant all day long, with people coming and going, so he naturally had a good eye for people. Some people are determined and have clear goals, and they are not judged by their age. Miss Li saw that she was very determined and unswerving. She said two hundred altars meant two hundred altars.

"Okay, we all want pure wine, and I will send the original wine over tomorrow." In this case, what kind of turbid wine is needed?

"Let's divide it into two batches. Tomorrow, on the 16th, you will send a hundred jars over, and on the 26th, you will send another hundred jars over. Pick up the goods in a month."

Qinggang's pick-up days are the 10th and 20th, so they are just staggered.

"I will make fine wine for fifty cents and one tael. For the ten kilograms of wine on the market, I will charge a processing fee of eight thousand cents. You don't have to worry about the labor processing fees for other materials. I am responsible for them all. Every time the goods are in stock Cash payment, no credit accepted, I wonder if you, the shopkeeper, have any problems."

The shopkeeper estimated in his mind that without deducting labor and material costs, each jar of wine would earn about six taels of silver. In the shopkeeper's opinion, the price was very reasonable due to the exclusive craftsmanship.

"Sure, no problem." The shopkeeper said happily. He still has the right to decide the price within this range.

"Then it will be a pleasure to cooperate." Li Xiaohan said, picking up a piece of snacks. The snacks in this teahouse are very good. She has been busy all morning and is hungry.

The shopkeeper handed over the documents. Tongfu Restaurant is a serious business, and the documents are always standard and standardized.

Li Xiaohan was eating snacks while polishing the document word by word. She had read the contract in her previous life. The essence of business has been the same for thousands of years. It is nothing more than the restriction and regulation of the rights and obligations of both parties.

After confirming that there were no omissions or text traps, this transaction was not risky for Li Xiaohan, so Li Xiaohan signed his name.

"Shopkeeper, we will have a happy cooperation from now on." Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

"Miss Li, happy cooperation." The shopkeeper also smiled. Although there are some restrictions on production, the current cooperation has also met the shopkeeper's expectations. The crisis can be solved, and the shopkeeper is very satisfied.

After Li Xiaohan signed the paperwork and returned to the Qing Gang, the leader of the Qing Gang was already waiting in the shop. Ma Wu would not dare to hide such a big deal that the owner of Tongfu Restaurant invited Miss Li away. As soon as they left, Ma Wu immediately sent someone to notify the gang leader.

If the only person in this transaction who is not very satisfied is the Qing Gang Leader. I can't say that I'm unhappy, of course, I'm not very happy either.

Li Xiaohan never promised exclusive supply. During this period, the Qing Gang suppressed other small forces that were ready to take action while other big forces were not paying attention. Li Xiaohan did not pursue any further inquiries and spent most of his energy developing her fan. Only through the pepper planting business can the Qinggang obtain its unique status.

Now, if Tongfu Restaurant takes action, a new situation will begin.

"You also understand that it is difficult to do exclusive business." Li Xiaohan said, "I promised you before that even if there are other people, I will keep your supply, two hundred jars per month, this quantity will not change ."

"How much does Tongfu Restaurant produce?"

"Same, two hundred altars per month."

Strangely, Gang Leader Qing was comforted. They and Tongfu Restaurant were equal in front of Li Xiaohan.

"But there is one thing you should pay attention to. Tongfu Restaurant supplies its own original wine, so their prices will not increase and their output will not be restricted. You are different. You also know that the price of grain has increased recently. It's going up, but I don't know what will happen next. If Lao Qiu's Tavern goes up in price or runs out of stock, you have to be mentally prepared. I'm also very passive, and I can't guarantee anything else by then."

"It's okay, I can do this too." Gang Leader Qing said, finding a few wine suppliers wouldn't be a big problem for them.

Li Xiaohan glanced at Gang Leader Qing and said, "Okay. When the time comes, I won't increase your price."

"Thank you." Leader Qing said, and he naturally understood that Li Xiaohan had indeed given him a great benefit to be able to reach this level.

"Looking at the bright side, you are not a professional wine seller after all. You are selling goods from the north to the south to make a profit. This is your core advantage. Now that you have gained a good reputation in Fucheng, other things in the shop can also be sold. Not bad. Just in time, go and explore the market outside Fucheng. In Fucheng, Tongfu Restaurant has more conveniences than you. I often say that you can't put all your eggs in one basket, and you have to do the same. After all, your subordinates So many people depend on you for their livelihood." Li Xiaohan glanced at Sniffles and the others outside the door.

Sometimes it's strange, isn't the Qing Gang a black and white gang? They charge protection fees to grab territory and so on. I've never heard them show any mercy. However, they raise such a bunch of young men and it doesn't look like they are abusive. look.

Could it be that their industry also pays attention to the inheritance of talents?

I don't understand, but it's true that because of this, Li Xiaohan has a better impression of the Qing Gang.

Gang Leader Qing followed Li Xiaohan's gaze, and Sniffles and the others felt it immediately and ran away quickly.

Li Xiaohan withdrew his gaze and said, "By the way, I have one thing to trouble you. When your people go to the south, help me see if there is that kind of equipment for steaming flower dew over there. If Yes, as long as the price is not too exorbitant, you can bring a set back for me."

The custom of Fucheng is martial arts. Li Xiaohan has asked all the shops and there is no such thing.

But according to Li Xiaohan's memory, flower dew should be a pastime for noble women in ancient times. This era is very similar to Chinese civilization. She suspects that it is a parallel world with the same origin. Logically speaking, civilization has not developed to this day. It's almost time to have it.

"Okay. I'll help you find out when the time comes."

The leader of the Green Gang has never seen this thing before, but judging from the name, it seems to be something belonging to rich and noble girls. Now that Li Xiaohan wanted it, no matter what it was, he would just try his best to find it.

It's good to maintain a good relationship with Li Xiaohan. I wonder if they can share the same share with Tongfu Restaurant now. If there are other forces that want a share of the pie in the future, then it will be even more necessary for Li Xiaohan to leave a share for them.

"Okay, please excuse me. I'm leaving first." Li Xiaohan stood up and said goodbye.

After leaving Qinggang, I didn't go home immediately. With the extra two hundred jars of wine per month, Li Xiaohan had to buy another batch of various spices.

Renhetang clerk Xiaotian is already very familiar with Li Xiaohan, and Xiaotian can almost recite the medicinal materials in the list.

"Why are there so many more this month?" Oda asked curiously while grabbing medicine.

"We have added a new supplier from Tongfu Restaurant, so it will be more expensive." Li Xiaohan explained.

"Miss Li's business is getting bigger and bigger." Xiaotian said with emotion. At the beginning, Miss Li was still a skinny farm girl. Now Lian Qing Gang is doing a steady business and even has a business with Tongfu Restaurant. .

At the level of Mr. Oda, he didn't know that the medicine hall and Tongfu Restaurant he was in actually had the same owner, but Tongfu Restaurant's reputation was known to everyone in the city to be true.

"It's just a small family business, just a handicraft meal." Li Xiaohan said modestly.

"It's safe to have a handicraft to make a living." Oda said quietly. I just can't get enough of the craft of medicine, so I've been working as a medicine boy at the front.

"It's all about earning hard money, so there's nothing safe about it. To be safe, it's brother Xiaotian like you, who treats illnesses and saves people, is decent and respectable." Li Xiaohan praised.

"I don't dare, I don't dare. Doctors are the ones who treat illnesses and save people." Xiaotian said modestly.

"Then Brother Xiaotian, you are also helping. It is all part of it. Although the doctors are more important, Brother Xiaotian, you are also indispensable." Li Xiaohan said.

In Li Xiaohan's opinion, being able to remember and distinguish hundreds of medicinal materials, and then understand the characteristics of most of them, and being able to answer patients' questions is indeed a technical job.

Xiaotian was so praised by Li Xiaohan that he couldn't help but puff up his chest. He looked around and saw no one around. He whispered to Li Xiaohan, "For someone like you who needs goods for a long time, it's best to stock up on medicinal materials recently." The price has also increased. Although the price of your spices has always been high, there has been no price increase this time, but who can say for sure what will happen in the future."

Li Xiaohan looked serious and lowered his voice and said, "Brother Xiaotian is right, thank you Brother Xiaotian for telling me. Then I will grab double the amount. I didn't bring enough money when I went out today. I will bring more next time." Come over and continue stocking up."

Li Xiaohan could listen to his words, and Xiaotian became even happier and continued to grab the medicinal materials, "It's done. Then I'll double it for you."

While the two were talking, someone from the backyard shouted, "Xiaotian, after you grab the medicine, come in and help. A new batch of Qinpi has arrived."

"Hey, I got it." Xiaotian responded loudly.

Qin Pi? It sounds familiar. Where have you heard it?

Not in this life, I have never taken medicine several times in this life, and Wang has never heard of Qin Pi among the medicines he took.

That was my previous life, but I had never heard of a tree like Qin Shu in my previous life?

Could it be that I remembered it wrong? That's really familiar.

Li Xiaohan frowned and thought hard, but still couldn't figure it out.

"Miss Li, that's all. No, take it and pay. Shopkeeper Luo and Doctor Zhang are both busy today. Just go and pay."

Being interrupted by Master Oda, Li Xiaohan couldn't remember anymore, so he could only put it down for the time being, "Okay, thank you, Brother Oda. Then I'll leave first. Brother Oda, you are busy first."

After paying the money, she returned home with a small basket of spices. Wang's lunch had already been prepared.

Several people finished lunch together, but Li Xiaohan asked everyone to stay and said seriously, "Today, I took another order for two hundred jars of wine per month from Tongfu Restaurant. Now the manpower at home is not enough. I figured some adjustments needed to be made."

""Lotus, I want to hand over the pepper base to you. Do you have the confidence? "

"Master, I've only just learned how to stir-fry base ingredients for a few days! I'm not good at it." Li Hehua hurriedly refused.

Li Xiaohan frowned in disapproval and didn't care about her title. "I've been observing these days and you've cooked the pepper base very well. Compared with mine, you can't taste the difference. You can't taste the sweet chili sauce either." I'm getting started. There's no problem. If you say no, you're just relying on me and not making up your own mind. You can't make progress like this."

Li Hehua lowered her head and remained silent.

Li Xiandong and Wang advised, "Hehua, don't believe in yourself. We are watching from the side. You are a very agile child. If Xiaohan says you can do it, you can do it."

Wang and Li Xiandong also have selfish motives. The secret recipe for the pepper base has been taught to Li Hehua, so there is no need to worry about keeping it secret. Now that there are two hundred jars of wine on the list, if Li Xiaohan takes care of both, he will be really busy. We can only let Hehua bear a little more, and Xiaohan will be able to relax a little more.

Obviously, the words of Li Xiandong and Wang gave Li Hehua more confidence, or perhaps Li Hehua also knew that this was a rare opportunity. After a moment, Li Hehua raised his head and said, "Master, if you can trust me, I will take over this stall." coming."

"Call Sister Xiaohan. This is the right thing. Don't worry, I won't let you go all at once. I will watch you from the side for the first few times and continue to help." Li Xiaohan said this, Li Hehua looked at her with naked eyes Visible relief.

"However, in the long run, you still have to become independent. Your mother and Zhao Auntie, you can choose one to be your helper. Apart from the secret recipe for the base ingredient, which cannot be taught, you will also be able to pinch snails, cut peppers, etc. You let them do the cooking for you, and you just fry the base ingredients yourself. You decide who you want."

"Sister Xiaohan, can I choose my mother? Will you say I'm partial?" Although Aunt Zhao is also very good, Mrs. Ye is Li Hehua's biological mother.

"People's hearts are biased, so I'm still biased towards you." Li Xiaohan said.

But what she didn't say was that she originally wanted to give Li Hehua's helpers two cents more per day, but now that Li Hehua has chosen his own mother, she can't add it, otherwise it would be a bit subtle, "What about the base material?" For a stall, after excluding all costs, including pepper, labor, and various materials, I will share the net profit with you 10%. If you have other innovations, such as developing new dishes or something, I will add more when the time comes. "

"Sister Xiaohan, I don't need it. You still give me fifteen cents a day." Li Hehua declined hastily.

"You have to understand that your current salary of fifteen cents is fixed. I have deducted all of the 10% profit so that you can calculate it. The upper and lower limits are very large. If you can't make money, You didn't score a penny. If you make a lot of money, your savings plan can be advanced. So, how much money you can make depends on how hard you can work to make money for me."

It's impossible not to make a profit. With the exclusive supply of hot peppers, all avenues have been opened. It's just a matter of making more or less.

Li Hehua also understood that this was a test for herself and also an opportunity. The words "saving plan" touched Li Hehua's heart. He really relied on fifteen cents a day to buy land, but he didn't know how long he would have to save. "Master, I choose 10% profit. I will work hard and give If you make money, you will also make money for me. Yao Wuer Er Qi Wu Er Ba Yi"

"Sure. That's it." Li Xiaohan said. She believed that Li Hehua would choose this kind of thing.

"That's right, that's right. That's good." Li Xiandong and Wang agreed.

Li Xiaohan looked at Li Xiandong, then at Wang's big belly, and he gently put down her father's arrangement.

Forget it, in more than two months, her mother will give birth, so don't touch her father yet. When it comes to giving birth to a child, men are born with a huge advantage. After the baby is born, they must be given money, effort, and time.

Alas, the stall is getting bigger and bigger, so it is better to reserve more talents. Otherwise, it will be too tiring to rely solely on oneself, and it will not work alone.

=== Chapter === 79

After Mr. Ye was transferred to help Li Hehua, the three people picking peppers were reduced by one. Although Ms. Zhao and Ms. Ma said it didn't matter if they were a little busier, they could just extend the time for picking peppers.

But Li Xiaohan thought that the next period would be the peak fruiting period for peppers, and it would not be possible to survive by just being busy for a day or two. This person still had to make up for it.

It's just for a while, it's not easy to choose this person. Although Li Xiaohan has now announced that he will find another person, and all the women in the village can sign up, it is not easy to find someone who is quick at work, has trustworthy character, and is suitable.

Li Shengyi's family is in trouble. Four of the five women in the family have come to help. The remaining one, Han, has a child who is still young and has to take care of the child. And the wool cannot be harvested by one family.

After much thought, Li Xiaohan thought of Li Dashan's family, Hua'er and Niu'er's mother. Last year, in the car returning from selling Eucommia ulmoides, Li Xiaohan gave Hua'er and Niuer a piece of cooking cake. Later, Li Dashan's family sent a load of vegetables. The earliest batch of pickled sauerkraut in Li Xiaohan's family was still Li Xiaohan's. The vegetables from Dashan's house are pickled.

With this start of cooking cakes and vegetables, Li Xiaohan also tried to get Wang and Huaer Niang to interact more. Later, Li Xiaohan thought about it and stopped trying to change society. He was afraid that Wang and Li Xiandong would But the Dashan family has a pretty good relationship with their own family.

Li Xiaohan was interested in Huaer Niang, so he mentioned it to Zhao. Zhao and others thought that although there was no need to add more people, Li Xiaohan was now more capable, and Zhao and others could not persuade her easily. Now Li Xiao Han had already chosen the candidates, but he just wanted to ask their opinions. Mrs. Zhao thought for a while, "Hua'er is pretty good, she is a hard-working and tidy person, and her children are older, so she can probably take the time." Take action."

Sure enough, as soon as I told Hua'er Niang, she agreed immediately. Li Dashan is the youngest son, and the land he was allocated was not much. In the past few years, the family had some difficulties. The younger son was weak and often went to the doctor. Fortunately, he has survived now, but the money has been exhausted. My hands felt a little tight. Otherwise, why would their family grow so many vegetables? Li Dashan often sells them in the city, so he can subsidize a little. Now that she could get a job at home for ten cents a day, Hua'er Niang hurriedly agreed.

"If you're just busy on weekdays, it doesn't matter if there are flowers and cows at home." Li Xiaohan asked. After all, Li Dashan's family has a small population of four, unlike Li Sheng's Yi family, which has four generations living under one roof. As long as everyone lends a hand, it will become a success.

"No problem, no problem. Hua'er's father is at home." Hua'er's mother said quickly in order to get this job.

Li Xiaohan understood in his heart. It seemed that Li Dashan's family was just like his own family. Because of the small population, they had to do all the work at home. Unlike some families in the village, the men did not know how to do it. of the kitchen.

Once Hua Er Niang is settled, the rest will be easy to talk about. Early the next morning, Hua'er Niang carried a backpack and went to pick peppers with Zhao and others early.

At the end of the morning, the wine from Tongfu Restaurant was delivered. One hundred jars of fine wine, packed in ten-jin wine jars, were piled up in the two principal rooms of Li Xian's house. The space was really tight, so Li Xiaohan had no choice but to make adjustments. Originally, he wanted to have the west-facing principal room. The storage of peppers can now only be moved to the original tool room in the east wing, and the tool room has been moved to the second backyard. At present, the peppers can still be accommodated. After Wang has given birth, they will move to the second backyard and two more main rooms will be freed up.

"The wine from Tongfu Restaurant is really good." Li Xiandong opened the lid of a wine and sighed.

After soaking in wine for so long, Li Xiandong now has some knowledge of wine. The wine from Tongfu Restaurant obviously looks clearer and smells more mellow. Without drinking it, he knows that this wine is better than that from Lao Qiu's. The wine is more than one grade higher.

Li Xiaohan held a ceramic bowl, poured a little out and tasted, "Yeah. This wine is really good."

Although due to the constraints of brewing technology, the alcohol content of this ancient wine is not too high, but the wine of Tongfu Restaurant has obviously brought the grain brewing skills to the extreme. The mellow and aftertasteful feeling is indeed enjoyable. .

No wonder the ancient poets said that there are hundreds of poems about drinking wine. After drinking this kind of food and wine, you will not be too drunk to the point of unconsciousness, but you will also be slightly intoxicated, and you will feel as if you are a fairy. Isn't it just an explosion of inspiration?

It seems that Tongfu Restaurant is preparing to take the high-end route. Li Xiao thought secretly in his heart.

But it's normal to think about it. Tongfu Restaurant was originally the top restaurant in the city, but because of the asymmetric information and being a little arrogant, it fell behind the Qing Gang and lost some of its customers.

Now that Tongfu Restaurant wants to seize back this lost market and reputation, how can it lower itself to the Qingbang level? It must launch better quality products and occupy a higher-end market in order to maintain Tongfu Restaurant's reputation. status.

As for the price of this kind of wine will inevitably be higher, that doesn't matter. People who can go to Tongfu Restaurant will naturally not care about the price difference. The wine at Tongfu Restaurant will be more expensive and better, so these customers will be happier. . As for those who care about the price difference, they are not customers of Tongfu Restaurant, so it doesn't matter.

The market positioning and customer groups have been determined. In the high-end market, Qingbang cannot win, but in the mid- to low-end market, Qingbang still has great opportunities. However, the Qinggang is suitable for dealing with this group of people. I just don't know if the Qing Gang can figure it out.

Whether the Qing Gang can figure it out, you will know by looking at the face of the Qing Gang leader when he comes to pick up the drinks on the 20th.

The news that Tongfu Restaurant also ordered a batch of pepper wine was basically known to everyone in the Qinggang, and some people below were slightly angry. After all, they discovered it first. Isn't Tongfu Restaurant just relying on its own power to come out and grab food halfway?

However, the first batch of people who transported the wine knew that Li Xiaohan had used their car to go to Tongfu Restaurant to pay the protection fee, and they vaguely guessed that there was something inside. They only looked worried, but not unfair. Wheels come first, last come, and they are not the first.

Li Xiaohan looked over from the corner of his eye and saw that Gang Leader Qing's expression didn't change much. He didn't know whether he had figured it out or suppressed it.

After all, they were the first partners, and the two parties got along quite happily. Li Xiaohan then said a few more words, "Tongfu Restaurant is taking the expensive route, and you will definitely lose this part of the profits." But they probably don't care too much about the mid-range market. You can hold on to it. In fact, this is also very good for you and suitable for you. Although you have lost temporary profits, you can make money steadily and don't do this to get ahead of yourself. , is suitable for you."

After all, you entered the industry halfway and your family background is not very clean. If you really make a lot of money and are targeted by others, it will be easy for you to get screwed.

The leader of the Green Gang is a smart man, so he can naturally tell the difference. At least they won't be affected too much. The remaining three-thirds can probably be understood after thinking about it when I go back.

Think about Li Xiaohan again, with his exclusive secret recipe and craftsmanship, he first got a protective umbrella for himself, and then he only made a steady profit from the craftsmanship fees. He would rather give up short-term profits, but first Plant the peppers and then develop them.

The leader of the Green Gang sometimes thinks about it, as if he felt that Li Xiaohan was a bit stupid at the beginning. No matter how much he was persuaded, he refused to increase production. He couldn't make quick money or make a lot of money with secret recipes. He was too timid. Now it seems that Li Xiaohan's step by step is really exquisite.

After listening to the advice, Gang Leader Qing's expression became calmer. The people below saw that the leader of the Qing Gang was stable, and their angry and impetuous mood gradually faded away.

On the tenth day, it is not only the day when the Qing Gang comes to get drinks, but also the day when Li Xiaohan and others go to Fucheng to set up a stall.

Having said that Li Hehua would be responsible for this stall, Li Xiaohan would not care too much. From the initial preparation of materials to going out today, Li Xiaohan always placed himself in a supporting position, unless Li Hehua really had a problem. , otherwise even if he saw that Li Hehua was wrong, Li Xiaohan would never speak.

Li Hehua has a smart temperament, and she has always been quick and capable at work. Even if she makes a mistake, it is only a small mistake, and she can adjust herself quickly, so she is safe and sound.

However, Li Hehua asked, "Master, why didn't you remind me?"

Starting yesterday, Li Hehua stubbornly called her master, but Li Xiaohan couldn't stop her. She changed her mind once she said it in front of others, but she still said, "Uncle Xiandong, where is my master? Aunt Wang, where is my master?" ?Auntie, my master is not here."

Forget it, after all, he is a studious and grateful child. If Li Xiaohanxin adds his own age in his previous life, if he becomes an exam editor and a teacher, a thirteen-year-old junior high school student like Li Hehua will , it's okay to call her teacher.

Moreover, in fact, in the past, He Hua was not allowed to call him master because Li Xiaohan had no confidence in himself.

She felt that she could not bear the responsibility of being a teacher or a father, because her thinking in later generations would have a certain influence. She was willing to teach, but she did not want to bear the burden of another person's life. Even though no one asked her to take responsibility, she knew in her heart that she was a little scared.

But after getting along with each other for this period of time, Li Xiaohan found that she could take on more, even if she still felt a little unsure, even if the title still felt a bit heavy to her. However, some of the weight made her feel a little tired and more secure. Just like accepting her parents and the embryo in her mother's belly, she has more connections with the world.

Li Xiaohan, who decided to accept the title of master, further implemented the saying that a strict master produces a good disciple, "Look at this, you don't grow faster."

Li Hehua thought about it, and it made sense. However, "Master, if I make a big mistake, you must tell me."

"Don't worry, I'm here and I won't let you make a big mistake."

With these words, Li Hehua became more confident. He drove forward slowly and soon arrived at Fucheng again.

Due to the spread in the past few days, the pepper base is becoming more and more popular today, especially many housewives, who buy it for a few bucks without blinking an eye.

However, there was one man among them who caught Li Xiaohan's attention. This man's complexion is copper-black, he is wearing a bundt, and his expression is a bit timid and withdrawn. He neither looks like a wealthy man who has enough money to buy fried snails to go with wine, nor does he look like a housewife who saves the trouble and buys the ingredients.

However, this man, after hesitating and looking around for a long time, stood in front of Li Xiaohan's stall and said that he wanted to buy a piece of base material.

"What do you want to buy for?" Li Xiaohan asked. Because when setting up the stall, Li Xiaohan and the others would advertise that you can make the base ingredients at home by yourself, so some women asked carefully. Clearly, therefore, Li Xiaohan looked at this person and asked specifically.

"I...I want to buy some fried snails." The man hesitated for a long time and finally said it.

"It's okay to fry the snails." Li Xiaohan looked at it and said naturally, "The snails you picked up must be raised in clean water for two or three days. You can add a little green onion." Salt, so that the snails spit out sediment more cleanly,"

Li Xiaohan gestured at the amount of green salt the size of half a fingernail to make sure the man could see it clearly. Fang continued, "Then on the morning when the snails are fried, you have to get up early, clean the snails and clip the tails." Cut it off so that the snail meat can be sucked out when sucking the snail. Don't be lazy and cut off the tail of the snail the night before. If the snail is dead overnight, it will be inedible the next day and may even be bad. Diarrhea. Do you know?!"

After saying this, Li Xiaohan stopped and stared at the man carefully, making sure he understood and remembered, nodded, and then continued, "Before frying the snails, heat the pot first, and then put the bottom If you have lard at home, it is best to add a little, then add ginger and garlic, stir-fry until fragrant, add the snails, and stir-fry continuously. After about half a quarter of an hour, you can add onions and perilla, be sure to add them. Only with perilla can we remove the fishy smell from the snails, and then stir-fry for half a quarter of an hour, and then it's ready to serve."

Li Xiaohan spoke very carefully, and the man's eyes widened as he listened very seriously, causing the people around him to look askance: What, what's so special about this person? Know him?

But Li Hehua and Li Xiandong thought about it for a long time, but they couldn't remember that they knew this man.

Just when everyone thought it was finally over, Li Xiaohan said cautiously, "Okay, repeat it to me again and I'll hear if you missed anything."

The man did not expect that Li Xiaohan would say these words. He was stunned for a moment, but he was very obedient and started to repeat, "It needs to be raised for two or three days, and a little green salt..."

After the man finished retelling the story stumblingly, Li Xiaohanfang wrapped a piece of base material for him, and then took out a piece of perilla leaf from the bottom of the stall and gave it to him. Fang collected the money and let the man leave.

Li Xiandong and Li Hehua were stunned for a moment, but there were so many guests at this time that it was inconvenient to ask more questions.

After more than half an hour, seeing that the fried snails were almost sold out, with only the last portion left, Li Xiaohan packed them up as usual and said, "Dad, I'm going to Qingshan Academy." . Hehua, go to the Qinggang with your father and wait for me."

"Master, shall I go to Qingshan Academy with you?"

"No, we already knew the road last time, and I'm not afraid of anyone on my own. Besides, if you take over this stall, your things will often be stored at Qinggang in the future, so you have to get familiar with it." Li Xiaohan said.

Her mother was about to give birth, and her father would be unavailable for at least a month. She didn't know if she would be able to spare time at that time, so she asked Li Hehua to slowly start dealing with the Qinggang now and get familiar with it, so as not to be in a hurry later.

"Okay, master, please be careful." Li Hehua warned.

"Yes, Xiaohan, please be careful." Li Xiandong was not at ease either, but his daughter's ideas were always very good.

"I understand." Li Xiaohan waved his hand and ran away with two large bamboo tubes.

They found Qingshan Academy by familiar means and asked someone to call Li Xinhe out. Last holiday, Li Xin and his trustee went back with a message saying that they had something to do in Fucheng and would go home next time. Li Xiaohan suspected that Li Xinhe went to check the price of grain. I went out to the stall today and came to ask.

Li Xinhe came out quickly, took the bamboo tube from Li Xiaohan's hand, looked around, and when he saw no one around, he whispered, "Xiaohan, I went to all the grain stores in Fucheng and asked about this grain." The price is indeed high. Including around Fucheng, the price of food is too high. However, this year, the official newspaper reported that there is no news of famines across the country, but instead there is a chorus of praises for a good harvest. The price of food is abnormally high. ."

Li Xinhe was secretly alarmed. He suspected that the government was concealing news about a famine in a certain place, otherwise why would the price of food become so high for no reason.

Li Xiaohan glanced at Li Xinhe and suspected that it was normal for famines to cause food prices to rise. However, "Brother Xinhe, if famines occur elsewhere and food prices rise near Dingcheng, then the official Chang Ping The situation can no longer be alleviated, and the people are panicking. But for a famine of this level, the public will have more or less news about it, so that nothing can be found out."

After listening to Li Xiaohan's words, Li Xinhe also nodded. Yes, it's such a big news that he couldn't find out. You know, Qingshan Academy brings together students from around Dingcheng. There are students from all kinds of families. It's not like I don't know anything at all.

"In addition to famine, there is another situation that will cause food prices to rise sharply, and that is that someone is collecting a large amount of food and hoarding it." Li Xiaohan looked into Li Xinhe's eyes, his voice was very thin but very sure, "In King Ding In the vassal land, except for King Ding himself, there is no force that dares to hoard food until the price of food rises."

Food prices have a great impact on people's livelihood and stability. Therefore, it was King Ding who was hoarding food.

Li Xiaohan stared into Li Xinhe's eyes, making sure that Li Xinhe understood.

Li Xinhe really understood. For a moment, his pupils suddenly opened wide, his eyes filled with disbelief, and then he shook his head crazily.

No, no, no, what is the purpose of a local vassal king hoarding so much food?

Li Xinhe, who had received orthodox education since childhood, had a strong impact on his faith and his whole body was on the verge of collapse.

"Brother Xinhe, no matter what the reason is, you have to go home and tell the clan leader that in our clan, summer grain cannot be sold, and we even have to buy grain."

When the price of grain is high, some people will covet the money and exchange their grain savings for money.

This happens especially after the summer tax. Short-sighted people will even sell all their food rations and keep only a little, thinking that they are rich. When food prices fall, they will I can buy the grain back.

I thought I could make the difference, but in fact, when something happened, I couldn't buy any grain at all. You focus on other people's price difference, and others focus on your life-saving food.

Li Xiaohan couldn't let this happen. If everyone in the village ran out of food and their family was still well-off, their family would be in danger.

When there is no food, there is no morality at all.

However, she rashly reminded the villagers to save food, but no one would listen. She had to use the channels of Li Xinhe, who was well-informed from the capital city, and the name of the most authoritative patriarch in the clan.

"Brother Xinhe, you must go home before the summer tax." Seeing Li Xinhe's shock, Li Xiaohan warned again.

"Yeah." Li Xinhe nodded in a daze.

"Then I'm leaving." After confirming that Li Xinhe knew, Li Xiaohan clapped his hands and left.

Why should such a big news only weigh on her mind? We are all smart people, Xin Hege and the others cannot be idle. It took so much effort to help brother Xinhe get admitted to Qingshan Academy, and he owed favors from the Qinggang Gang and the favors from the shopkeeper of Renhetang.

Now is the time for Brother Xinhe to repay.

Li Xiao Hanxin nodded to himself, he was smart, and he felt a lot more relaxed after taking away the responsibility.

Li Xiaohan walked away briskly, leaving behind only Li Xinhe, who was crumbling under the scorching sun, and his mind was struck by the storm. After an unknown amount of time, Li Xinhe returned to the academy in a daze, holding two bamboo tubes.

"Brother Xinhe, did your clan sister bring you food again?"

"Yes, it's the same as the bamboo tube last time. Come, my family also sent me a jar of meat. Let's share it with each other."

"Yes, let's share it together. I'll prepare some sour plum soup for everyone."

After a few words, everyone made arrangements for Li Xinhe and left to eat.

"Brother Xinhe, brother Xinhe, what's wrong with you? Why don't you eat? Did something happen?"

"Yes, something happened at home!" Li Xinhe stood up suddenly, "I have to ask for leave from my husband and go home. Things at home are very urgent."

After Li Xinhe finished speaking, he ran out without even eating.

"I think the clan sister who came to Brother Xinhe must have brought very important news, otherwise Brother Xinhe wouldn't be so anxious."

"Yeah, my family sometimes feels that we can't help in the academy and are distracted. It's better to hide it from us and let us study hard. But we won't regret it until we find out. We will worry more in the future. Home. You might as well tell us early in the morning." A student said emotionally while sucking the snail.

"Yes, yes, that's the truth." Another student nodded in deep agreement while sucking on the snail.

Li Xiaohan didn't know that Li Xinhe had already asked for leave from school. At this moment, they were riding a bullock cart on their way home.

"Master, why did you teach that man so carefully just now?" Li Hehua asked, wouldn't she have an extra junior brother? No way?

Li Xiaohan had just given a large part of his heart's burden to others. At this moment, he was relaxed. After hearing this, he explained in a good mood, "Look at that man, he is a man who has enough money to drink. ?But people who have enough money to try new food?"

"They don't look alike." Li Hehua said. She had been to the stall a few times, and the people who came to buy their pepper base were all people with some money to spare. She also knew that Li Xiaohan was in He asked her, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "On the contrary, it seems to be in great embarrassment. It is a family that relies on selling its labor."

"You are right, he is a very embarrassed family. You can see that he is not tall, but has strong shoulders. You guessed it right, he should be a coolie like a porter. These people buy the base ingredients, not for themselves. , most likely preparing to make food for sale."

"Then Master, why are you still selling it to him? You can just sell it, why do you teach so carefully? Isn't this robbing us of our own business?" Li Hehua asked anxiously.

"Hehua, we can't make all the money, otherwise we will be exhausted. Think about the amount I calculated for you earlier. Selling fried snails is actually not very cost-effective. What you earn is hard-earned money. , then what does it matter if the money is given to people who need it more. We can also spend more time and energy improving ourselves, which is good for everyone."

Li Hehua, who is already very accurate in arithmetic, can already understand this. Today's base materials are selling very well. If she can devote all her time to base materials, she can indeed make more money.

"Moreover, as more and more people enter this industry, wouldn't it mean that more people will know and accept pepper? Then our pepper base can be sold to more people, even in prefectures. One day , sell it to the capital, sell it to the south of the Yangtze River. The cake is getting bigger and bigger, and everyone is sharing more and more."

Li Hehua was a little confused, but think about it, if these peppers can be sold to the south of the Yangtze River and the capital, then indeed, even if she only sells a small amount of pepper base, she can make a lot of money. .

"In particular, regardless of how well we are selling peppers now, we are actually very dangerous. If someone doesn't want us to sell it and smashes our stall, there is nothing we can do. However, if more people like it If this pepper joins this industry, then those who want to set up shop should think carefully."

"Who would destroy our stall?" Li Hehua asked in confusion, "We do our own work well and we don't offend anyone else."

"Pinkeye, all kinds of accidents. You can understand it this way. If you are Li Hehua of the Li family, and you are tied to everyone, people in other villages will not dare to bully you. If you are just an orphan girl Li Hehua, Lotus, danger is everywhere. Therefore, we must build a chain that is not a blood relationship but a chain of interests. When we ourselves become an important link in this huge chain, no one can touch us and dare to No matter how big the risk is, with the help of this chain, we can survive it safely."

"Master, I understand a little bit, but I don't understand a little bit."

"It's okay. If you think about it slowly, you'll figure it all out one day."

"good."

When the three of them returned home, Li Xinhe's rented ox cart arrived at the entrance of the village.

Originally, Li Xinhe wanted to drive back with Li Xiaohan and the others, but he and his husband asked for leave and were delayed for a while, and then he couldn't find Li Xiandong and the others. They were walking too slowly. Li Xinhe thought for a moment, So he simply rented a bullock cart and came back. He originally thought he could catch up halfway, but unexpectedly, he chased for most of the distance and failed to catch up. Li Xinhe simply stopped chasing and slowly thought about how to convince his father.

By the time they returned to the village entrance, Li Xinhe had already made up his mind. The news that Li Xiaohan revealed in the dark was really shocking. This accident could very well be a serious crime of beheading. Without any Before the evidence is proven, no speculation can be made, including your own father's.

His father, sometimes he was a little distracted by the thought of him taking the exam for meritorious service.

So, let's just say that the price of food in Fucheng has increased. He vaguely told his father that there might be an increase even if there was inside information. His father and his third uncle knew the family history and had escaped from famine. Food was much more important than money, so they would definitely stop the villagers. Selling grain.

Li Xinhe decided to do it this way.

The next step is Xiao Han. Thinking of this, Li Xinhe has an even more headache, almost more headache than facing his father. why? I've always known Xiaohan to be smart and bold, but I didn't expect her to be so smart and bold.

How dare you think so? !

However, once I followed her train of thought, I vaguely felt that she was right.

Li Xinhe frowned and thought for a long time, but he didn't think he could convince Li Xiaohan, but there were some things that he couldn't say to others, even to those he was close to. Xiaohan believed in himself too much. Li Xinhe sighed, feeling that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

Li Xiaohan didn't know what Li Xinhe thought about her, but in the afternoon, she was preparing wine-making spices when she heard Mrs. Zhao open the door and say, "Xinhe, why are you back? Are you taking a break today?" ? Come here to find Xiaohan? Or Xiandong?"

Brother Xinhe moves very quickly. Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows.

"I'm looking for Sister Xiaohan, and then I'm looking for Uncle Xiandong."

"Ah, come in, come in. You see, I'm confused and I'm blocking you." Mrs. Zhao now looks at Li Xinhe like her own son. He's so promising. He will definitely bring them Li Xinhe in the future. As the family moves forward, no, it is much better than Zhao's own son.

Li Xinhe walked in quickly.

"Brother Xinhe, why are you here?" Li Xiaohan pretended to be surprised and said, "Didn't we just meet at noon? We will set up a stall in Fucheng in the future. What do you want me to bring back to the clan leader? I've told you everything. Or did you miss something that you didn't tell me?"

Li Xinhe choked and bent his head slightly. They clearly didn't say anything at noon that they wanted to bring back to his father.

Instead, Li Xiaohan asked him to come back.

So, does this mean you don't admit what you said?

That's good, that's good. Li Xinhe's head returned to normal, and he had one less thing to worry about. "Oh, yes, I forgot about it at the time. Later, I remembered some things, and I I'm back. Where is your father? I'm looking for Uncle Xian Dong."

"Dad, Brother Xinhe came to see you and said something happened." Li Xiaohan shouted, and then smiled at Li Xinhe, "Brother Xinhe, I will make tea for you."

"Hey, I'm here." Li Xiandong was stirring wine in the side room. He quickly came out after hearing this, and Li Xiaohan went to the kitchen to pour tea for the two of them.

Li Xinhe didn't say much. He just said that the price of food in Fucheng was rising. He had news from other students that the situation was not right and there might be a famine. He hurriedly came back to tell everyone not to sell food but to stock up on food. He and his father notified every household, quietly, asking everyone to keep quiet and just stock up on some food.

Li Xiandong naturally nodded in agreement without any objection.

A few days later, the summer taxes were paid, and 60% of the rent for the wheat-growing portion of Li Xiaohan's eighty acres of land was returned.

Because the tenant farmers did not have ox carts, they originally wanted to carry them back manually. Li Xiandong was anxious and took the ox carts to transport them back. The tenant farmers carried bags one by one, which required at least two days of walking under the scorching sun. Li Xiandong drove an ox cart and finished the journey in half a day.

Entering the backyard, the packed rooms made the three members of the Li family, who once had an empty home, feel a lot more solid. "Our family has become more solid."

When the food is full, it seems that life has a certain weight, and it can be firmly rooted in this land, and will not be empty, as if it is blown away by unexpected wind at any time.

After the food was put into the warehouse, even Li Xiaohan became less worried.

After the summer tax, no one in the Li family sold grain. The people in charge locked the summer grain tightly in the warehouse with a tacit understanding.

I've stocked up on food, what should I do next?

Li Xiaohan thought.

=== Chapter === 80

"Miss Li, the house we are looking at today is located in Gumen Lane on Zhongzhongmen Street. It is just over a kilometer away from the entrance of the alley. It is only more than one kilometer away from the Renhetang Medicine Hall that you specially requested. Come quickly. If you walk quickly, it only takes more than a quarter of an hour."

The middleman introduced Li Xiaohan while walking forward. In the past month or so, he has received commissions from Mr. Li and Miss Li, and has visited the house several times. Now he has figured it out. Among these two people, it is Miss Li who can talk about things.

"The surrounding environment is also very good. We are all old neighbors who have known each other for many years. They are all decent people with families and businesses in Fucheng. The owner of the house is a scholar, but he has not won the lottery for many years and has exhausted his resources. Now the male owner has given up the imperial examination and plans to return to the countryside to teach and educate people, so he has sold the house. However, this reason should not be revealed in front of the owner later. Scholars are thin-skinned. ."

The agent warned that obviously the man of the family felt that he would not pass the imperial examination and would lose face by selling the house. Therefore, in order to save the man's face, the family may have mentioned it to the middle-aged man.

"What do you mean by absolute sale?" Li Xiaohan asked doubtfully while checking the surrounding route environment. Apparently the stranger thought she would be satisfied with this house and had already mentioned the new term "sale".

"A absolute sale means that the house is sold completely and will not be redeemed in the future; the opposite of a absolute sale is a live sale. The owner reserves the right to redeem the house at the original price at any time within thirty years. Although the price of such a house It's low, but it's not safe. If you live comfortably, the previous owner suddenly comes back and wants to buy it back. Wouldn't it be terrible? Therefore, we want to make this clear to you." The middleman is very sincere. said.

"Oh, then we want to sell it for sure." Li Xiaohan said, in Dingcheng, King Ding will move the capital back to become the capital in the future, and the housing prices will definitely rise. How could she leave such a big tail for herself.

"Yes, so Miss Li is a neat and tidy person." The middleman praised and pointed the way, "Turn in from here."

Li Xiaohan took a look and saw a stone tablet on Gumen Lane at the entrance, indicating that this was the entrance to Gumen Lane.

Entering the alley, it feels naturally much narrower than the main street, but there is no obstruction for cattle and carriages to enter. The ground is clean and there is not much garbage and dirt. Li Xiaohan is very concerned about the surrounding environment. Three points satisfied.

The few people walked for another half-quarter of an hour and came to the door of a small courtyard. The middle-aged man knocked on the door and shouted, "Ms. Zhao, I am from Zhu Zhong. I have brought people to see the house."

After a while, the courtyard door creaked, and a middle-aged woman in her forties with a melancholy face opened the door and poked her head out. Seeing that she was from Zhu Zhong, she stepped aside and waved people into the house, "Come in." "

Perhaps because she wanted to sell her house and return to the countryside, Mrs. Zhao looked a little embarrassed, without a smile on her face. She remained silent after entering and only stepped aside to let Li Xiaohan and others watch.

There is also no man who has failed the imperial examinations for many years as people say.

The middle man was a little embarrassed, but Li Xiaohan didn't care much. Looking all the way in, he saw that although the family was so embarrassed that they wanted to sell their house, the yard was not badly damaged. It was obvious that the family cared for it.

It's just that there are many places where there were obviously various chairs, tables and other furniture. Now they have been vacated, leaving only some old traces of their existence over the years.

Apparently the people in this family have moved out and are now just waiting for the house to be sold.

After taking a round of inspection, Li Xiaohan could already see that although the house was small, it was well-equipped with internal organs. It had two main rooms, with a wing room attached to each side of the main room, and two wing rooms in the east and west. One was used as a kitchen and the other was used as a cook. The warehouse.

The best thing is that there is a well in this house. Li Xiaohan understands the convenience of having a well. I am even more satisfied with this house.

"Although it is a bit empty, but there is nothing left, which makes it even more obvious that this house was well built back then. Miss Li, look at the cornerstone, which is a large bluestone made of one piece. Look at the beams, they are all made of good wood. Yes. The owner of the house was also very rich back then. This was an estate allocated to his younger son, so although it is not big, the materials used are very good, but he did not maintain it." The middle-aged man whispered to Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan followed what the middleman said and looked over. Indeed, the frame structure of this house was well preserved, and he felt a little satisfied.

"Look again, there is a well in this house. It is very convenient to get water by yourself." The middle man said again.

It is indeed much more convenient to have a well platform. Li Xiaohan has deeply understood the advantages of having a well at home.

The intermediary then led the two people to look around, "The only drawback is that it is a little small, but because of this, the owner has never divided the house and rented it out, so the house is well-kept, very neat and well-organized." It's all ready. Miss Li, you'll clean it up when you arrive, buy the furniture, and you'll be able to move in right away."

There will be some tenants who don't take good care of the houses that have been rented out, and it is really sad that they have to be renovated so badly that they have to be renovated.

Li Xiaohan doesn't mind the house very much. Her family has a small population and the facilities are just right. Whether it will be enough to live in in the future will be decided later. She might buy a new house by then.

"How much is the price for this house?" Li Xiaohan asked the price.

Li Xiaohan was very satisfied with the location and the configuration of the house. She had thought about what she could do if a military disaster really happened, especially when Wang was about to give birth.

Later, she discovered that she needed to stock up on food and medicine, but more importantly, she needed to be closer to the doctor.

This is all because medical treatment in ancient times was too difficult. In modern times, she stocked up on ibuprofen and Tylenol to deal with fever and pain, montmorillonite powder and salt solution to basically stop diarrhea, and alcoholic iodine. The bandage can basically deal with normal bleeding... There are instructions for reading, relevant information can be found online, and she can even consult online.

But how to use Chinese medicine? How to control the dosage of medicine? How many times a day? How to decoct it and take it? Don't know anything. Li Xiaohan is just a grower of Chinese medicinal materials, and he is not a practitioner of Chinese medicine. He can only stock up on a few commonly used medicines.

That's it, I don't know if it's suitable for the disease or whether it can be used.

Forget it, I still have to stock up on a doctor.

How can doctors be so easy to stock up on? Good doctors are all concentrated in Fucheng. Li Xiaohan had no choice but to search carefully for more than a month to find a house closer to Renhe Hall in Fucheng.

Fortunately, I have some money now.

It's better to have money. You can even stock up on houses. Li Xiaohan sighed.

"Five hundred and eighty taels." The man reported a number.

In an instant, Li Xiaohan felt that he was still not rich enough.

Tongfu Restaurant has recently released two batches of wine, and most of the wines from Qinggang in the past have been retained. She also made a little profit from the pepper base, and her savings reached a record high.

But she also spent a lot, stocking up on all kinds of spices, ready-made Chinese patent medicines such as Angong Niuhuang Pills, and the set of steamed flowers she asked the Qing Gang to bring back from Jiangnan. It also cost a lot to expose the utensils.

It's not that she couldn't take out the more than 500 taels of cash, but after taking it out, she didn't have much silver left.

Without enough money, there is no security.

Li Xiaohan sighed, but the houses he looked at recently were either too shabby and needed to be cleaned up before he could move in; or the location was too remote, too far from Renhe Hall; or the living environment was too messy, and Li Xiaohan was not very comfortable with it. like…

This set is the most expensive, but it also suits her best.

It seems that no matter which dynasty we live in, houses next to tertiary hospitals will never be that cheap. You still have to work hard to make money.

Sighing inwardly, Li Xiaohan tried to bargain, "This price is a little too high. Look at the two-bedroom house we looked at last time. It was much bigger than this one, and people only quoted Four hundred and three; and the one I saw last time is in Qingshan Alley, close to Qingshan Academy, and it's only three hundred and seventy; what are the advantages of this one, do you dare to quote five hundred and eighty?"

"The second courtyard I looked at last time was big, but it was in a remote location, close to the city gate. The one at Qingshan Academy was not big, and it was very old. It basically needed to be renovated before I could move in. It was really It's time-consuming and labor-intensive."

The middle-aged man carefully explained that he was an old middle-aged man, how could he not know that the buyer is the one who dislikes the goods, "The advantage of this house is that it has a very advantageous geographical location. It is not only close to Renhe Hall, but also close to the government office." , it's only more than three kilometers away, and there are many petty officials or scholars living nearby. It couldn't be better."

Finally, he sincerely asked Li Xiaohan for his opinion, "If Miss Li is interested, why don't I go discuss it with the owner of the house and see if we can reduce it some."

"Sure, I'll tell you the truth, five hundred and thirty taels. If you can explain it, I'll buy it."

Li Xiaohan estimated the price, and her mental price range was probably 540 to 560. However, of course, she had to leave a little room for quotation to the winner.

The middleman went over to discuss with Madam Zhao in a low voice again. Madam Zhao could be seen shaking her head, and then the middleman tried to persuade her again. Madam Zhao said something else.

Finally, the middle-aged man came back and said, "Miss Li, Lady Zhao said at least five hundred and fifty, nothing less. She has to take away all the household items in the yard."

"Sure." Li Xiaohan nodded. The price was indeed a little more expensive than the price on the market, but she was pressed for time and couldn't delay it any longer. As for the belongings in the yard, it wouldn't matter if they were taken away. She still wanted to buy new ones.

When it became a business, the middleman was naturally very happy, and his commission was quite large. It's just that for such a big thing as buying a house, Mr. Li didn't have any objection at all, but Miss Li made the decision. It's really strange.

"We didn't bring so much money today, how about the delivery tomorrow?" Li Xiaohan asked.

Tomorrow would be September 16th. It would be safer for her to take a few hundred taels of silver with her and follow the caravan transporting wine from Tongfu Restaurant.

"Okay, let me talk to Madam Zhao." The man went to see Madam Zhao again. This time Madam Zhao had no objection. The two walked out together, and Madam Zhao finally had a smile on her face.

They also agreed to meet in front of the Jingjie Office tomorrow. The middleman asked both parties to bring their household registration documents, etc., and they left.

On the morning of the 16th, Li Xiaohan and his daughter drove an ox cart and followed the wine transport team of Tongfu Restaurant to Fucheng. Then they found the door of the Jingjie Institute, where the middle-aged man was already waiting with Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao.

However, the middleman and Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao could not have imagined that Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong, a father and daughter who were rich and local, really bought a house with hundreds of taels of cash in a backpack, more than thirty kilograms.

This is all Li Xiaohan's fault. She was afraid that the banknotes would become useless paper in troubled times, so she always settled with Qinggang and Tongfu Restaurant in cash. As time went by, the money accumulated.

It was only when I needed to withdraw money to buy a house and dig money out of the ground that I discovered this problem.

It's just that Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong were able to carry the money in a torn bag, cover it with thatch, and carry the money on their backs, but Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao didn't dare to accept it just like that. There was no choice but to go to the bank first and exchange the money for banknotes.

However, this move shocked the middleman and Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao for some reason. Anyway, the transaction process went very smoothly, and Mr. Zhao didn't show off his deadly expression at the beginning. In addition, the intermediary was familiar with the business, and the officials in the economic office were very good at managing it, so the deed was quickly completed.

"Ahem, Miss Li, this is a red deed stamped by the government. It is the most authoritative official deed. If you keep it, this house will be yours from now on."

The middle-aged man originally thought that it was surprising that Mr. Li and his daughter had always been involved in the house purchase, but Miss Li later found out that Mr. Li had carried the money in a basket on his back for the transaction. He thought nothing would be more surprising. Finally, it was Miss Li's name written on the deed, and he realized that there was always something more surprising to him.

If he remembered correctly, Mr. Li and Miss Li's registered residence was in a village. Could it be that the girls in the village are so fierce now?

Li Xiaohan didn't care what his wife thought. He saw that there was no problem. Looking at the deed paper stamped by Jingjie, there was naturally no problem. Li Xiaohan just took one more look at the ancient real estate certificate, and then carefully read the deed. Put the paper away.

The house she bought with the money from selling her peppers naturally bears her name. Although the land where peppers are grown is named after his father, the food from her eighty acres of land goes to the mouths of the whole family.

After signing the deed, we agreed with the middleman that after Mr. Zhao and his family move out tomorrow, the troublesome middleman would find someone to clean the house and repair the areas that needed to be repaired. Li Xiaohan would come over to take possession of the house on the 20th. After paying the last marriage fee, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiaohan went back with a fresh and hot house deed.

"Dad, I have no money." Sitting on the bullock cart, Li Xiaohan sighed.

"It's okay if we have no money. Your mother and I still have some, and we can give them to you." Li Xiandong said cheerfully.

His girl is so awesome, she bought a house in Fucheng so quickly. As for not writing his name, his name is written on his house. The money was earned from selling peppers, so it was appropriate to write his daughter's name.

"That's not necessary, but I have to think carefully about how to make money." Li Xiaohan said looking at the sky.

=== Chapter === 81

Li Xiaohan dug out such a large sum of money from his family to buy a house. The Wang family must have known.

If it weren't for Wang's belly, buying a house would be such a big deal, Wang would definitely go and check it out. Although she had no opinions or suggestions, Wang never dared to think about buying a house in Fucheng. Now, this thing is happening in front of her, and she wants to see it.

Unfortunately, now that her belly is pregnant, Wang doesn't dare to move around. She can only wait anxiously at home for Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan to come back.

At noon, when the sound of the bullock cart drove into the backyard, Wang knew that Li Xiaohan and his daughter were back. Sure enough, after a while, the back door opened, and Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong walked in one after another. Li Xiaohan's face was light and Li Xiandong's face was filled with pride.

"Is it done? Let me see." Wang said anxiously.

"Wait for me to wash my hands first." Wang was about to give birth, so Li Xiaohan paid more attention. He tried his best to wash his hands before coming into contact with Wang when he came back from outside. When people from Qinggang and Tongfu Restaurant came to transport wine, they also Wang is not allowed to go to the front yard.

Knowing that Li Xiaohan was a bit particular and required others to be particular too, Mrs. Wang could only wait patiently.

After Li Xiaohan washed his hands, he took out the red deed from his arms and showed it to Wang.

Wang unfolded it carefully, for fear of accidentally getting it dirty and broken, and then read the description carefully. Wang is illiterate and does not recognize most of the house address, transaction reason and target price on the deed, but she still recognizes the three characters Li Xiaohan.

Caressing the house deed carefully, Wang's face blossomed into a smile.

It's great, her daughter now owns a house in Fucheng. If she has a house and land as a dowry, which husband's family will dare to offend her daughter in the future. No matter where she gets married, her daughter will be able to hold her head high in front of her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law.

After looking at it carefully for half a quarter of an hour, Mrs. Wang carefully folded the deed paper and said seriously, "Put it away carefully, don't damage it, and put it in your small camphor wood box, there No bugs."

The daughter she gave birth to knew that in Wang's mind, Li Xiaohan was sometimes a little careless, or in other words, he worried too much about other things and felt a little too relieved at home.

The money I paid for selling pepper wine last time was that I actually wanted to put it in the box casually. This was so imprudent. If a thief came in and took it away, she probably wouldn't have acted if she hadn't asked her father to dig a hole and bury it in the ground.

Although the name is written on the house deed, it will be useless if a thief takes it away, but if it is damaged or lost, it will be very troublesome to replace it. Therefore, Wang could not help but give a few words of advice.

"I got it, mother." Li Xiaohan said. Seeing that Wang was worried, he straightened his expression, "I will definitely be more careful and put it in the camphor wood box."

"As long as you know, this house costs more than five hundred taels of silver." Wang said with emotion, "Old Li's family has never had such an expensive house."

A house in the countryside can only cost a few dozen taels at most, and no matter how big it is, it can't exceed a hundred taels.

Thinking of this, Wang's face was full of pride. So what if she only gave birth to one daughter. This daughter was already more promising than the grandsons of Lao Li's family combined.

If the baby in her belly was half as smart as her sister, Wang felt that she would wake up laughing from her dreams, and would have to offer pig heads to her mother-in-law and ancestors to repay the gods.

Thinking of this in her belly, Mrs. Wang was a little worried. Po Wen had seen it and found that she was going to give birth in less than a month, and she didn't know whether it was a boy or a girl.

According to Wang's own thoughts, she naturally hopes that it will be a boy, so as to leave a root for her father and give her daughter a brother to rely on. Also, if the mother does not give birth to a boy, her daughter's reputation will also be ruined. Will be affected. Xiaohan will be a hair-haired girl next year, and Mrs. Wang is afraid of dragging down her daughter's reputation.

The closer this is to production, the easier it is to think about it.

"Mom, you pack up. We'll move to the city in a few days."

Wang was distracted when she suddenly heard Li Xiaohan's crisp words. Suddenly, she was shocked back to her senses, "Why are you moving to the city? You live well at home. And moving to the city What to do with the cows, sheep, and chickens at home? No. The house in the city should be kept well. You and your father can take a look at it from time to time. You can stay there for only two nights. You still have to stay there on weekdays. Live at home."

"Mom, you're about to give birth. At your age, you were injured when you gave birth to me, and then you got pregnant again after a short period of recovery. To be safe, you'd better go to the city to give birth." Li Xiaohan stopped. He made a move and said earnestly and earnestly.

Although her mother was only in her early thirties, according to modern concepts, she was not yet an advanced maternal age. But modern mothers go all the way to prenatal check-ups. What are the dangers? They were treated early, unlike her mother, who just went to Dr. Zhang to feel her pulse a few times.

Moreover, her mother had a criminal record against her. If something happened, the stable woman in the village would probably have to resign herself to fate. She could go to Fucheng to find a doctor. Although Dr. Zhang and others are not necessarily experienced in obstetrics and gynecology, they are still doctors. They understand everything and definitely know more than ordinary people.

"That's not true. Many people in the village are looking for a stable mother-in-law to have a baby in the village. It would be so embarrassing to go to the city to have a baby." Wang said with a little hesitation.

"You don't care what other people do. Do the people in the village have houses to live in the city?!" Li Xiaohan became more serious, "Mom, don't be like this. Think about it if something happens. In the village, you You can rest assured."

"Listen to Xiaohan. In a few days, when the house in the city is ready, we will move to the city and come back after you give birth." Li Xiandong interjected. Now he also understands why Li Xiaohan I bought this house in a hurry. Xiaohan was indeed right. If anything happened, the doctor in the city would be the one to rely on.

When her husband and daughter said this, Mrs. Wang stopped insisting and started thinking about what to bring to the city. She must bring bedding and clothes, especially the children's things. There are still cattle that can be driven to the city. What to do with the chickens and sheep? They will inevitably have to be entrusted to Zhao to help take care of them for a while.

But these things can be arranged slowly later. For now, let's have lunch first.

After finishing lunch, Li Xiaohan found Li Xiandong and said, "Dad, can you help me make a wooden bucket without a bottom? It should be as high as a bucket and as big as a steamer. It can be placed on an iron pot, and then There is also an opening on the side, which can be inserted diagonally into a bamboo board. One end of the bamboo board is thick and the other is pointed. The thick end goes into the bucket and the pointed end comes out."

Li Xiandong thought for a while, then picked up the bucket next to him and gestured, "Is it like this? Make a hole here and insert half of the bamboo board."

"Yes, the position where the bamboo board should be inserted should be higher. The hole exposed by the bamboo board is about the size of two knuckles." Li Xiaohan said.

The toilet steaming device brought by Tuoqing Gang has arrived. Li Xiaohan has tried it before. The principle of this thing is the same. It heats the liquid to boiling and then condenses the steam into liquid, and finally stores it. Li Xiaohan tried to pour the wine in and heated it to a boil over low heat. Indeed, there were water droplets of alcohol flowing out of the pipe.

However, this thing is small and exquisite. It is used to steam toilet water for ladies to kill time. Maybe half a perfume bottle's worth of toilet water can be evaporated in one day, and ladies will be happy. And the ladies are probably just having fun, the ones who really work all day long are the maids.

However, Li Xiaohan was miserable. The alcohol of this era was originally low in alcohol. After steaming for a long time, the small pot of wine was evaporated. In the end, the alcohol contained in half the cup cover was evaporated while steaming.

No, it's not practical.

Li Xiaohan thought hard and finally came up with a solution. Since the degree is low, simply pour the wine into a clean large pot, place a wooden barrel in the middle, and place a clean pot bottom on top. After heating and boiling, the steam from the water and wine rises and meets the bottom of the pot above, and then They gather together again, drip into the bamboo board, and are finally collected. The collected wine and water mixture is much higher in purity and alcohol content.

After the first evaporation and purification, the boiling point difference between the boiling point of alcohol at 78 degrees and the boiling point of water at 100 degrees is used to put the purified wine into a toilet steaming device and heat it in a water bath again. Water bath heating can make the wine in the toilet steamer reach the boiling point of alcohol, but before it reaches the boiling point of water, the alcohol will evaporate in large quantities and become liquid again through the condenser tube above and be collected.

This is a method that Li Xiaohan desperately recalled the experiments he did in middle and high school, collected all the remaining modern knowledge in his mind, and combined it with the current conditions. It should be possible in theory, but in practice, it will definitely be very big. of losses. But no matter how much the loss is, if it can succeed, it will be worth it.

Li Xiaohan described his requirements to Li Xiandong in detail. He needed the two ends of the barrel to fit as closely as possible with the new pot at home without exposing too many gaps.

After three days, Li Xiandong finally made the steaming bucket according to Li Xiaohan's requirements. Oh, steaming barrel, that's what Li Xiaohan named this special wooden barrel.

Since I wanted to experiment with making wine and it involved confidentiality, I chose to go into the kitchen in the backyard to do it.

Li Hehua had already stepped out of the kitchen to stir-fry the base ingredients. As I said before, the secret recipe for making wine cannot be taught. Li Hehua does not need to remind herself. Whether it is making wine or preparing ingredients, she will immediately avoid anything related to it when she hears or sees it. Often before Li Xiaohan could react, Li Hehua had already run away.

But that's okay, after all, Li Xiaohan still keeps the recipe for making wine.

Since the purpose is to purify alcohol, it is naturally more convenient to use good wine. Li Xiaohan used ten kilograms of fine wine from Tongfu Restaurant. Therefore, there is a reason why she spends her money quickly.

Pour the alcohol into the pot, then place the steaming bucket on top, and then place a clean new pot on the steaming bucket, with the bottom of the pot facing inward, and tightly surround the gap between the steaming bucket and the edge of the pot with a clean new cotton cloth .

Slowly simmer over low heat, and you will feel the water in the pot slowly boiling, and bursts of steam slowly emerge from the gaps in the barrel. There is definitely no way to completely seal this seal. But I hope there will be less of them popping up. After all, a lot of what pops up is wine.

After a while, about a quarter of an hour, a clear stream of water, thinner than chopsticks, slowly flowed out from the tilted bamboo board and dripped into the wine jar at the bottom.

Li Xiaohan took some of it with a spoon, gently put it under his nose and smelled it.

Li Xiandong only saw his daughter's eyes light up, and then she broke out into a bright smile.

"Is it done?"

"The first step is completed."

Li Xiaohan replied with a smile, this rich aroma of wine is unmistakable.

=== Chapter === 82

Li Xiaohan took the tip of the wine and smelled the aroma, but never drank it. What comes out of the head of the wine are impurities with low boiling points, mostly alcohol and methanol. The concentration can be as high as 70 degrees, which is not suitable for drinking. The essence of real distilled wine is in the middle of the wine.

After waiting for a while, Li Xiaohan took the middle part of the wine in a small bowl. He first looked at its color, which was slightly yellow and transparent, and then smelled its aroma. It didn't have the strong aroma of the wine head, but it was more pure and pure. Finally, he sipped it lightly. One sip, the wine tastes smooth and mellow with a long aftertaste.

Li Xiaohan even thought about it for a moment, feeling that this wine had a bit of a later-generation white wine feel. After tasting it, Fang handed the wine to Li Xiandong.

Li Xiandong took the wine from Li Xiaohan and said first, "This wine tastes so good."

"Well, the concentration of many aromatic tinctures produced by wine fermentation increases with the concentration of alcohol. Therefore, after distillation, the stronger the alcohol concentration and the stronger the aromatic tincture, the more fragrant the wine will be." Li Xiaohan explained.

And Li Xiaohan suspected that the wine of Tongfu Restaurant should be brewed with sorghum. It is a multigrain wine. The characteristics of grain wine summarized by later generations are "sorghum is fragrant, corn is sweet, rice is pure, and barley is strong". This wine is extremely fragrant. The content of sorghum should not be less.

Seeing that Li Xiandong didn't understand why the wine smelled better after being cooked, Li Xiaohan thought for a while and said, "Dad, you can understand that wine is made from grain. If the grain is cooked, it will smell much better. This wine is also the same."

Although the explanation was a bit crooked, the principle was the same and easy to understand. Li Xiandong thought about it, raised his head, and put the wine into his mouth.

"It's a little hot and spicy after drinking, but you didn't add the pepper." Li Xiandong said doubtfully.

"Well, I didn't add the pepper. This is the burning sensation caused by the concentration of the wine itself." Li Xiaohan said.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to accurately judge the concentration of this wine. I heard that skilled winemakers can judge the concentration by the hops. For example, Moutai hops are divided into 'fish-eye hops, piled flowers, full flowers, broken rice hops and rings'. Flower', different hops represent different degrees.

In his previous life, Li Xiaohan's boss was a rich man and a lover of classical culture. He not only collected Ming-style furniture, but was also a senior liquor collector. He often talked about liquor culture with his subordinates, and lamented that modern wine table culture had lost the meaning of wine tasting. , they all got drunk and chewed peonies. The real wine tasting is to appreciate the aroma and mellowness of the wine, the depth of the craftsmanship and the wonderful changes.

Of course, the boss will usually take out a bottle to treasure, and after educating his subordinates for a long time, depending on the level of his confidants, if he is a real confidant, the boss may be heartbroken and give you a small cup, no more than one mouthful, which shows that he is right. After you take it seriously, you can store the wine properly.

For other confidants, the boss usually shows off and then encourages you to work hard. Only when you meet the boss's standards one day can you be lucky enough to share the boss's wine.

In order to have a common topic with the boss, the middle and high-level people in Li Xiaohan's planting base have all practiced Baijiu Kungfu on paper. They are true theorists. As for who has drunk the boss's wine, anyway, everyone has Said he had drunk it.

But Li Xiaohan had personal experience. He only managed to drink it twice when the medicinal forest had a big harvest and the boss sold it at a good price. Just these two times, the heartbroken look on the boss's face was deeply imprinted in Li Xiaohan's heart. When the boss talked to Li Xiaohan from now on, he would always say, "Xiao Li, you know, you are one of our own." Okay, let's not talk about those false etiquette." Anyway, I never drank that wine again.

Thinking about it now, it was quite pleasant at that time. Such a wealthy boss gave me money easily and the people were not difficult to get along with. But it was all a lifetime ago.

Back to the present, according to Li Xiaohan's own thinking, the alcohol concentration of this distilled alcohol is estimated to be around 40 degrees.

Li Xiaohan drank a little more, smacked his lips, and tasted it carefully. Well, it felt a bit like Daqu's strong fragrance Wuliangye. Just by the name, Wuliangye knew it was a multigrain wine. Li Xiaohan remembered that he visited the Wuliangye Liquor Culture Museum in order to have a topic with his boss. At that time, it was introduced that Wuliangye is a slow-fire wine making process of mixed steaming and mixing.

However, how can this earth-stove steamed wine compare with the intangible cultural heritage? It is better to get some disinfectant alcohol.

It's just that although Li Xiaohan said that he only wanted to distill alcohol, the marks left by his previous life are still there. For example, Li Xiaohan subconsciously, 'Pinch off the head and tail, and take the wine in the middle', and use the best middle wine to The small wine jar is saved, and the rest is taken out for secondary processing of alcohol.

After processing and evaporating the ten kilograms of alcohol in one go, most of the jar of distilled wine was obtained. Li Xiaohan poured the wine into a toilet steaming device for secondary processing.

Because it is heated in a water bath, there is no need to keep an eye on it this time. Anyway, no matter how the water boils, it will not exceed 100 degrees. At most, if the fire is high, the water will dry faster. If the fire is low, the alcohol will come out. Just slow down.

"Are you ready? Do you want to have lunch first?" Wang said. The two father and daughter have been in the kitchen all morning, and it is almost noon.

"Mom, don't come in. There is a strong smell of alcohol in this kitchen. You go and pack your things. Dad and I will make lunch." Li Xiaohan said, although it was already in the late stage, but Li Xiaohan was on the safe side. It is better to let Mr. Wang have less contact with alcohol.

"Sure." Mrs. Wang didn't object anymore. If she wanted to move to Fucheng to wait for her childbirth, she wouldn't have to go there. There would be a lot of things for adults and children, as well as mattresses and quilts, etc. Ms. Wang was moving quickly now. If I can't get up, I have to pack it up slowly.

In the kitchen, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong worked together to cook lunch. The weather was hot and people stayed in the kitchen for a long time, and their appetites were gone. Li Xiaohan simply made lean meat and vegetable soup, and then patted a courgette. Add some sour vinegar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds and mix, then divide Wang's portion separately, and add a tablespoon of pepper oil to his and Li Xiandong's portions. In this hot summer, such a lunch is both refreshing and satisfying and increases appetite.

The Li family's lunch was placed under the eaves of the second courtyard. It was a good location, out of the sunlight and a little bit drafty. Li Xiaohan could occasionally get away and go back to the kitchen to take a look at the heat of the distilled wine. Everyone had a great time.

Mrs. Wang was nibbling on her separate piece of cold courgette, looking at Li Xiaohan's plate of green and red courgette, and quietly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

She can actually eat it, but she is prone to coughing after eating it, and her coughing is not good, and her stomach is easily stretched. Mrs. Wang looked at the stars dotted with chili oil and swore in her heart that she would eat enough after giving birth and after her confinement. I didn't think it tasted very good before, but the less I can eat it, the better it tastes.

After lunch, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong went to the kitchen to work again. They repeated the process over and over again. By the evening, they finally purified almost a small jar of alcohol.

Even the loss is too much.

Li Xiaohan secretly calculated the cost in his heart and felt that he had spent too much.

In the previous life, a large bottle of 500 ml alcohol cost more than ten yuan, which was less than a pound of meat. At that time, she was so generous. She took a small spray bottle, sprayed her hands and mobile phone, and finally sprayed her whole body. She must be thoroughly disinfected.

Now she asked Tongfu Restaurant to bring her wine, and Tongfu Restaurant charged her eighty cents and one tael for a jar of ten kilograms, which cost one tael of silver, and half a fat pig was gone.

Li Xiaohan carefully corked the wine, fearing that if he spilled a few drops, he might lose a penny.

Forget it, Li Xiaohan comforted himself. In his previous life, it was industrial alcohol, a technology tree that had been lit for thousands of years. If he could pour some alcohol out of grain and wine, he had borrowed the wisdom of his predecessors. Brilliance.

In this way, Li Xiaohan suppressed the pain in her heart. However, she also carefully prepared the remaining head and tail of the wine. Maybe it will come in handy in the future.

"Dad, Mom, the content in this little jar is alcohol. You can't drink it. It is used to eliminate... um, to eliminate the filthy air." Although Li Xiandong and Wang were always careful, they would not touch Li Xiaohan's body. Something, but Li Xiaohan still warned me.

"Yeah, I got it. You put it away." Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang said, after spending a whole day, spending so much effort, and consuming such a jar of wine, they finally came up with such a small jar of alcohol. That is naturally extremely precious.

After getting the alcohol, the next day it was already the 20th, which was the day when the Qing Gang came to pick up the alcohol. After Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong planned to set up their stall, they went to the house in Fucheng to take a look. If there were no problems, their family would start preparing to move to Fucheng.

But before that, I have to explain things clearly to Hehua and the others.

"Ah, Master, are you going to live in Fucheng for a while?" Li Hehua asked, sitting on a rickety bullock cart.

"Well, wait until my mother comes back after giving birth." Li Xiaohan said.

"What about our pepper base and your pepper wine?" Li Hehua asked. The Li family's stall is inseparable from Li Xiaohan. Especially the Fanjiao wine, which Li Xiaohan personally watched.

"I have already thought about it. When my father and mother are in Fucheng, I will tell Brother Da Zhuang of Uncle Dashu's family and ask him to drive me back to Fucheng in a bullock cart during this period." Li Xiaohan said .

"Sure, I don't have any problem here. It's just that you're tired of going back and forth, Master. Master, if you believe me, don't worry about the pepper base. Just wait and count the money." Li Hehua said, after this After a period of experience, her confidence has greatly increased, and she thinks that she can pick up the base material.

"Of course I believe you, and I'm just waiting for your words." Li Xiaohan said, "If you are too busy, stir-fry more base ingredients and less stir-fried snails, spicy hotpot, etc. If it doesn't work, stop. Alright."

Now in this city, there are already many small vendors who buy the base ingredients and then make their own fried snails or spicy hotpot for sale. Their prices are similar, and if you sell more, they can get cheaper. The most important thing is that they sell every day and deliver them to your door with a clean load. Unlike Li Xiaohan and others, they only sell every five days. The stall is open every ten days, and it is very inconvenient if you want to eat on weekdays.

However, people in Fucheng still think that Li Xiaohan's fried snails are authentic, especially those who drink. Every five or ten times, they come here to buy a portion and pair it with the pepper wine. It is really refreshing and delicious.

Li Xiaohan said that probably when they were frying the pepper base, the ginger, onion, and garlic they took out were soaked in oil. When Li Xiaohan and the others were frying the snails, they put the ginger, onion, and garlic back in and stir-fried them together. . The snails fried in this way have enough oil and water and a strong flavor.

Small vendors want to control costs, so naturally they can't afford to buy so much oil, so they are eaten up by regular customers. As a result, Li Xiaohan's fried field snails have always been in short supply.

"No, it can be done. If you don't make this money, you won't make it in vain." Li Hehua was reluctant to give up this profitable business.

"Okay, just say it when you are too busy." Li Xiaohan said. Since Li Hehua insisted, she would no longer insist. Besides, the children in the village are still enthusiastic about fishing for snails instead of frying them, so let's do it first. How about this.

The two discussed some details, and Li Xiandong drove the bullock cart without interrupting. Nowadays, Li Xiandong rarely interferes in these business matters. He just does the logistics diligently, and then takes good care of the fields at home, including the pepper fields, Panax notoginseng fields, and Eucommia ulmoides fields. If he can be allowed to take care of the land, he will be happy.

While driving, suddenly a call came from behind, "Uncle Xiandong, sister Xiaohan, sister Hehua."

Li Xiaohan and others looked back and saw that it was an ox cart belonging to the patriarch's family. The person driving the ox cart was a helper from the patriarch's family. Li Xinhe sat behind him, and it was Li Xinhe who called people.

"Dad, it's Brother Xinhe, please slow down and wait for Brother Xinhe."

Li Xiandong slowed down the ox cart, and the ox cart behind him caught up. Li Xinhe jumped down with a baggage, climbed onto Li Xiaohan's ox cart, and said to the helper behind him, "I'm following Uncle Xiandong." The family's bullock cart is ready when it enters the city, and you can go back, Daniel."

"Yes, young master." Daniel was an old helper in Patriarch Li's family, so he naturally recognized Li Xiandong and others. Hearing this, he turned around and went back.

After Li Xinhe sat firmly, Li Hehua suddenly said in surprise, "Brother Xinhe, why have you lost so much weight?"

Li Xinhe's eyes moved to Li Xiaohan's face.

Ever since he got such big news, although it was just a guess, the more he speculated, the more terrifying it became. The pillar in Li Xinhe's heart was crumbling. The specific manifestation was that he couldn't eat well and couldn't sleep well. This was more or less Time has become much more haggard.

Moreover, it was difficult to tell other people, including his own father, Li Xin and Li Xin, who had to keep this news in their hearts. As I hold it back, it becomes easy for me to think wildly, and I can hardly hold it in anymore. Therefore, Li Xin and Na were pleasantly surprised when they saw Li Xiaohan, the culprit.

Li Xiaohan watched Li Xinhe's eyes wandering over, and he knew in his heart that his brother might have been greatly shocked, overthinking, or unable to think clearly. For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

"Ahem, I've been quite busy with schoolwork recently, so I feel a little tired." Li Xinhe cleared his throat and said.

"Oh," when it came to schoolwork, Li Hehua had no other questions, except, "Brother Xinhe, why did you come back today? Did you have a holiday yesterday?"

"Yes, I happened to have a rest yesterday, so I will rush back to Fucheng today."

"So that's it." Li Hehua suddenly realized.

"Brother Xinhe, it is a good thing for you to study, but you must also take good care of your body. You must know that the body is the foundation of everything. If your health is not good, you will not be able to do anything you want to do, right? The heavier the burden on your shoulders. People who are young must be more stable." Li Xiaohan advised.

Li Xinhe looked at Li Xiaohan. He hadn't seen him for more than a month. Li Xiaohan felt a little older again. His eyes were clear, his lips were rosy, and his face was full of vitality.

In comparison, I am really ashamed of myself and feel so out of control.

"Sister Xiaohan said that." Li Xinhe sighed with shame.

"Yes, Xinhe, you have to take good care of yourself. Once your body is well, you will be able to do anything." Li Xiandong said.

He fully understands the importance of the body. Dr. Zhang said before that his body was empty, and he didn't feel anything at the time. But later he took medicine to regain his strength, and later after eating, sleeping and recuperating, Li Xiandong realized the comparison. , Such a good body, you can do anything with energy.

"Yes, Uncle Xiandong, I understand." Li Xinhe was persuaded by everyone. Especially when Li Xiaohan looked like this, he seemed to have found an ally, especially when the ally was so calm. He was a smart man and wanted to Opening is just an opportunity.

The car drove quickly and quickly arrived at Fucheng. At the intersection, Li Xinhe said goodbye and left.

"Xinhe worked so hard." Li Xiandong sighed as he looked at Li Xinhe's thin figure.

"No." Li Hehua nodded in agreement.

"Dad, let's go. If you don't leave, it will be too late."

"good."

After a while, the ox cart drove into the West Market.

"Then the Li's pepper stall is here." Someone among the drinkers, vendors, and housewives surrounding the restaurant shouted loudly.

"Line up, line up. Everybody follow me."

"Mom, we came earlier than you and were already in line. Don't think of this way to jump in line."

"Why are you cutting in line? I've been here a long time ago, okay? I just missed your team for a moment." The lady muttered, but she still went to the back of the team.

All kinds of items at this pepper stall are very popular, and they are available every five and ten days. Now that you come late, you can't get it every minute. If she goes to line up now, she can still get a turn, but if she makes a few more noises, it will be over. It's all my fault that I was a few minutes late after gossiping for a while when I went out.

=== Chapter === 83

"Fried snails. Fresh and delicious fried snails."

At the entrance of Gumen Alley, Wu Dazhuang was hawking two buckets of snails while paying attention to whether anyone responded.

"Hey, how much does that guy selling fried snails cost?" With a creak, a courtyard door opened at the entrance of the alley, and a strong man greeted.

"One spoon, two cents, is such a big spoon." Wu Dazhuang quickly filled a spoon and showed it to the guests.

"What's new? I won't buy anything that's not fresh."

"I got up early this morning to pick up the tails of the snails, and then fry them freshly. I sell snails here every day, and I don't dare to ruin my reputation with stale snails. If the customers don't believe it, try it. One." Wu Dazhuang shook off the snails, left a few on the spoon, and handed them to the guest to taste.

The burly customer looked familiar to the snail seller, but that didn't stop him from giving it a try. I saw him pick up a snail, suck the head and tail very skillfully, and the snail meat was sucked out. After tasting another one, the burly guest turned around and shouted into the courtyard, "Second girl, bring me a bowl for daddy."

"Hey." A girl's voice sounded in the yard, and then the patter of footsteps was heard.

A smile appeared on Wu Dazhuang's face. He didn't mind if the burly guest continued to fish for snails for him to eat. It was normal to eat a few. He was most afraid of eating non-stop and finding an excuse in the end. I said your snails were not fresh and not flavorful enough, so I didn't buy them. They, who run small businesses, can't quarrel with others, so they can only endure this grievance silently. This strong man is quite generous.

After a while, a girl ran out holding a large clay bowl.

"Here are four cents and fill it up for me."

"Hey, guests, don't worry." As expected, Wu Dazhuang filled the spoon full, with two large spoons of snails, and the stoneware bowl was almost full.

The strong man guest was indeed satisfied. He took out four cents and gave it to Wu Dazhuang. He took the bowl from the little girl's hand and went back. I packed the things because I was afraid that the children would drop them and scatter them.

"Dad, give me one to eat." The girl raised her head and said.

"Okay. Take it yourself, don't get your clothes dirty." The strong man put down the bowl.

Wu Dazhuang took the money and touched it with a smile on his face. He recognized the customers of this family. In the past, the lady of this family came out to buy fried snails. This lady was a frugal person and only bought two cents. The girl wanted to eat, but she only said that she would wait until your father came back to eat together. Now it seems that the man who is in charge of the house came back early and was so generous that he bought four cents at once.

Today is really a good start. Wu Dazhuang was in a very good mood and continued to pick up the bucket and sell.

Gumen Lane is a relatively affluent alley near Fucheng. People here have their own industries and are naturally more willing to spend money on food. Wu Dazhuang was one of the first small traders in Fucheng to sell snails. He used to be a porter. People in this alley were generous with their porters, and they would not ask for their wages. After deciding to sell snails, Wu Dazhuang decided to sell snails. Da Zhuangbian specializes in this area.

It's not that there are other snail dealers trying to steal business, but he always remembers what Miss Li said, that the snails must be carefully raised and cleaned, they must get up early with their tails between their legs and fry them before they are fresh, and they must put perilla leaves before going. It smelled fishy, so he followed it to the letter.

Therefore, although there were several groups of people carrying burdens to sell fried snails in the early days, the people in this alley only recognized him, and gradually no one else came, so this place was by default his snail Wu's territory.

Thinking of this, Tian Luo Wu walked forward quickly. There were also a few regular customers in front, who came out to buy snails around this time.

However, the family with the book box carved on it at No. 16 in the alley seems to have moved. In the past, this family also liked to eat, but I guess the money is not easy to come by. For three to five days, I tried a few every day, but only for one or two days. I was willing to buy two pennies inside. Wu Dazhuang is not upset. This is all this scholar can do.

I wonder if the newly moved family has a generous personality and whether they like to eat fried snails? I have never seen the owner of the house in the past. I only saw Zhu Zhongren asking someone to help clean up, and then seeing people from the lumber store and grocery store delivering goods. It was just the owner of the house, and I never saw him.

It seems that this family is not too short of money, but I don't know if they like to eat fried snails?

Hope they like eating fried field snails.

Wu Dazhuang prayed secretly in his heart. When passing by this family, he walked slower and shouted louder.

Sure enough, the courtyard door creaked and someone opened the door and came out.

Wu Dazhuang's eyes lit up. Could it be that this family really likes to eat fried snails? They came out after hearing his cries. Thinking of this, Wu Dazhuang walked even slower, staring at the courtyard door from the corner of his eye.

As expected, what was exposed first was a pair of girl's hands, not too decorated with pearls and jade, and then a light grass green corner of clothes was revealed. Slowly, the corners of the clothes became wider, and a brisk figure walked out.

"Miss Li!" Wu Dazhuang exclaimed.

Li Xiaohan frowned and looked at the snail seller. He didn't know him. He asked doubtfully, "Do you know me?"

"Li... Miss Li, how could I not know you? We all the snail sellers know you." Wu Dazhuang said excitedly, "You also taught me how to fry snails. You are very good at it. It's so detailed."

"Oh." Li Xiaohan said it correctly. She probably learned it when she was selling pepper base, but she didn't remember it. "Now you are here to shoulder the burden of selling snails? How is the business?"

"The business is very good. Our family relies on this to make money and live." Wu Dazhuang said with a little pride and a little gratitude, "Miss Li, do you want... Don't you want to try my fried snails?"

"Oh, that's it." Li Xiaohan picked up one casually and sucked it, "Yes, your snail is fresh, washed clean, and the tail is clipped carefully."

Wu Dazhuang was so excited that he blushed when he received Li Xiaohan's affirmation, "It's all... Miss Li, you taught me well. I will always remember what you said."

"Have you been selling fried snails here?" Li Xiaohan asked again after finishing two snails.

"Yeah, I mainly run this area."

"Then do you know that the stable woman in this area is better?" Li Xiaohan asked with a frown, "The main thing is that the craftsmanship is better, the hygiene is better, and the experience is better."

Wu Dazhuang frowned and thought for a moment, then said in detail, "There are three Wen Pos in this area. The most famous one is Zhao Wen Po from Xinghua Alley next door. It is said that Wen Pos have been here for generations. She has rich experience; Wu Wenpo in Guozi Alley charges cheap fees and has delivered many babies, but she is not very particular; and Wang Wenpo at the end of your alley, her reputation is not that great, but Her father once worked as an apprentice in a medicine hall, and she knows a little bit about pharmacology. I sold snails to her family, and the house is clean and tidy."

"Miss Li, are you a family member who invites a Wen Po? You are a new mover and you want to invite a Wen Po. You ask someone to set up a connection, otherwise they won't pay enough attention." Wu Dazhuang said.

"They are members of my family. We will stay here for a while and then go back after giving birth." Li Xiaohan said, "Thank you, I will go and find the bride right away."

Hearing that Li Xiaohan said that he was just staying for a while, Wu Dazhuang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then Miss Li probably wouldn't sell snails every day. Before, Miss Li said that she was having trouble coming and going in the village, so she only went out to sell snails every five and ten days. Yes, now that Ms. Li's family is here to give birth to a child, they should not be free to work every day.

But after feeling relaxed, she felt guilty again. Miss Li taught herself the craft, and she also made a little money by frying snails. Now the family's difficulties are over, and they still have a little money left. How could I still think like this? At worst, I can still survive as a porter by myself. People cannot be so heartless.

"Miss Li, do you want to sell fried snails at home? You want me to stop coming to this alley from now on." Wu Dazhuang gritted his teeth and said cruelly.

Li Xiaohan was surprised for a moment, then smiled, "Why don't you come, keep coming, fry the snails with all your heart, and don't lose our reputation for frying the snails with pepper. This city is so big, and there are so many people, as long as we The fried escargots with peppers have always been delicious. From now on, you can fry the snails and sell them every summer and autumn, and my pepper base business can continue. Remember to go to the West Market every five and ten to see Xiao Li The girl sells the basics."

"Hey. Miss Li, I understand." Wu Dazhuang said loudly, slightly excited.

"Okay, you are good at selling fried snails, I'm going to find the middle-aged man." Li Xiaohan shouted into the courtyard, "Dad, I'm going to go find the middle-aged man. I'll be back later."

When a male voice came from inside, "Hey, be careful." 'In response, Li Xiaohan closed the courtyard door and left.

Wu Dazhuang came to his senses when he saw Miss Li walking out of the alley.

"Fried snails, fresh and delicious fried snails." Today's hawking was particularly loud and energetic.

Li Xiaohan walked out of Gumen Alley and came to Zhu Zhong's house, which was not far from Gumen Alley.

"Miss Li, wait a minute, I'll let the baby go find his father and come back."

It was Zhu Zhongren's wife who opened the door. When Li Xiaohan lowered his head, he saw her belly. She was about five to six months old.

Zhu Zhongren recently made a deal with Li Xiaohan's family, which is considered to be relatively big, so Zhu Zhongren's family also knows about it. Now that Li Xiaohan has reported to the family, Madam Zhu will know, " Shitou, go find your father and tell him that guests are coming when he comes back."

"Hey, mother, I'm going right now." A little boy of eight or nine years old ran out. He ran very fast on his legs and ran away in a whoosh.

"Is it far? Why don't you come back later?" Li Xiaohan frowned.

"If Miss Li is not in a hurry, why not come to my house and have a cup of crude tea? My father is out on business this morning." Madam Zhu was a little embarrassed. This regular customer came to the door, but the man in the family went out in the morning.

"No rush." Li Xiaohan said, looking at Madam Zhu's belly, and asked, "I think your belly is five or six months old. The child has gone out. Is there anyone else in your family? Please?" Are you safe yet?"

"It's okay, there is another one at home. I invited Wen Po, your Wang Wen Po from Gumen Alley." Madam Zhu said with a smile, her face full of happiness.

"Oh." Li Xiaohan nodded and said, and he met the snail seller, "To be honest with Madam Zhu, when I came to visit this time, I also wanted to ask Mr. Zhu to get in touch and introduce me to my mother. A stable woman. I don't know that Madam Zhu, you are already pregnant. Can you ask Madam Zhu why you invited Wang Wenpo?"

"It's such a coincidence." Madam Zhu said with a smile, feeling that her business was stable. Although the business was small, it was easy. "Speaking of Mrs. Wang Wen, it was also a coincidence that when I gave birth to the eldest son, , it was Mrs. Wang Wen who delivered the baby..."

By the time Zhu Zhongren came back out of breath, his wife had almost concluded the negotiation with his guest. Zhu Zhongren took Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong to find Wang Wenpo, negotiated the date and price, and then collected the money. A little extra for a small fee.

Now that Wen Po has been settled, the most difficult part of Wang's delivery in Fucheng has been solved. Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong discussed it and recruited an experienced woman. They agreed to come only during the day and wait for Wang's delivery period to come over to help with cleaning and running errands.

When the house in Fucheng is properly arranged, one of Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan will take turns to accompany Mrs. Wang in Fucheng for delivery. Mainly Li Xiandong will accompany Ms. Wang. Li Xiaohan hires a bullock cart from the Dashu family to travel back and forth to Fucheng. Days in Hepingshan Village .

September 28th, frost fell.

Early that morning, when Mrs. Wang woke up, she felt her stomach was sinking. They were so frightened that Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan quickly sent their helper, Mrs. He, to fly to the end of the alley to invite Mrs. Wang Wen.

Wang Wenpo ran over and touched Mrs. Wang's belly. She felt very calm and said, "It's started, but it's still very early. It will probably be until the afternoon. Don't worry."

"Wang Wenpo, please stay at home. My father and I are the only two of us who are not familiar with each other." Li Xiaohan said.

Wang Wenpo also knew about this family at the beginning. There are three people in this family, one is a grown man who is the father, and Li Xiaohan is a little girl who has not yet reached the age of hair. Naturally, she needs her guidance. Moreover, this family is very strange. The girl was so delicate at that time. He looked closely at her hands and asked her to cut off all her short nails until they were bare. At that time, the money given by this family was very generous, so Wang Wenpo agreed.

Just as he was about to help instruct Mrs. He, the helper of this family, to quickly heat up hot water and prepare to help this woman lay the straw mat for the ear room.

Unexpectedly, the girl from this family suddenly asked everyone to wash their hands with soap locust. Then, not counting, she took out a jar from somewhere and said seriously, "This is us." It is a custom in the family that anyone who comes into contact with a pregnant woman must have this essence water to eliminate the bad smells before they can contact her."

After saying this, the little girl looked very serious and took out strips of cotton cloth and gave them to others, including herself who wiped her hands with the essence water.

Wang Wenpo was unwilling at first, but just as she was about to object, the girl thrust a small money bag over her, and when she touched it, it turned out to be broken silver. Wang Wenpo compromised.

I don't know what this essence water is. It feels ice cold when I rub it on my hands. It dries up after a while, which only surprised Wang Wenpo.

When it was almost early noon, Wang started to speak loudly.

Mrs. Wang Wen drove the girl from the Li family out of the room, and while instructing Mrs. Wang to breathe hard, she checked the condition of the fetus, "Ms. Li, you have to work hard, you can see your head. Come, listen to me, breathe." Breathe in, breathe in, breathe out..."

Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan were anxiously running around outside the door.

I don't know how much time passed, but around midnight, there was a loud cry of a baby in the house.

Then Wang Wenpo shouted loudly, "Congratulations, Mr. Li, on your noble daughter!"

=== Chapter === 84

"Congratulations, Mr. Li, on your birth of a noble daughter."

Wang Wenpo's voice came out, and Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan outside the door were shocked at the same time. Subconsciously, Li Xiaohan immediately turned to look at Li Xiandong.

I saw that Li Xiandong was in a sluggish state, feeling disappointed after the huge expectations, and he seemed unable to recover.

Li Xiaohan sighed in his heart.

Her father, who grew up in a clan culture, naturally longed for a son. Only a son could throw plates, hang paper, and offer incense to him after his death. This is something that no daughter, no matter how promising, can do.

Li Xiaohan once felt sad about this, feeling that his hard work was not as good as that of a male.

But later Li Xiaohan discovered that even though she was a woman, Li Xiandong and Wang loved her. After she confirmed this, she could let go.

This is how people are, only after they have gained something can they talk about letting go. After letting go, Li Xiaohan could face it.

After merging the memories of two generations, she felt half pity and half love for Li Xiandong and Wang. Naturally, she hoped that Li Xiandong and Wang could get what they wanted. After all, in this era, Li Xiandong and Wang could have a son. It's better for them.

And according to the average age of this era, Li Xiandong and Wang have been troubled by this for half their lives. It is too difficult to change their minds. Only having a son would be better for them.

Unfortunately, having a boy or a girl is just a matter of probability. No one can guess, they can only look at fate, and sometimes fate is not as expected.

"father."

After a long time, Li Xiaohan heard Li Xiandong respond in a low voice that seemed inaudible.

What Li Xiaohan wanted to say just stayed on the tip of his tongue. Whatever you say at this moment seems to be in vain.

After a while, Wang Wenpo finished packing and shouted, "Mr. Li, you can come in."

Wang Wenpo's voice was high, but she was also a little worried. It was obvious that Mr. Li and Mrs. Li were so old and had only one daughter, so they naturally wanted to give birth to a son.

Nowadays, another daughter is born. Wang Wenpo has delivered many babies, so she has seen similar situations. Most of them are scolded by family members and ignored by the mother. This situation is particularly annoying.

It's just that now, after the mother gives birth to her child, she feels a little bit overwhelmed. Wang Wenpo was afraid that something would happen to the mother, so she didn't dare to say anything. She quickly packed up the baby and put it on the bedside. Then she cleaned up the mother and called the Li family in.

Li Xiaohan followed Li Xiandong in, glanced at Li Xiandong before entering the door, and warned, "Dad, Mom has just given birth, please be happy.

Li Xiandong looked stern, finally came to his senses, and forced a smile.

When the two entered the room, Li Xiaohan saw Mrs. Wang who had just given birth, her face was pale, her head was covered in cold sweat, but there was no trace of joy. Her face was sad, and she sighed in her heart: This is even more troublesome.

Glancing at the newborn, who was wrapped in swaddling clothes and couldn't see clearly, Li Xiaohan sat at the end of the bed, patted Mrs. Wang's hand, and whispered: "Mom, what's wrong with you?"

Wang didn't respond for a long time, only a line of tears slowly appeared in the corner of her eyes.

"Mom, it's not your fault. My sister is pretty good too." Li Xiaohan tried to comfort her.

Wang's lips trembled slightly, but her eyes were not focused. She just stared at the bed curtains in front of her. After a long time, she let out a low cry, "I'm sorry for you, I'm sorry for your father."

So far, she only blames herself.

"No, this is not your fault. It is not your decision to have a boy or a girl. You are not wrong, it is just the world that is wrong." Li Xiaohan said softly but firmly.

"Still, do you think I'm wrong? As a girl, I should let Brother Cai and Rong and the others eat the worst food and do the most work. I deserve to be a stepping stone for boys like Brother Cai and Rong. Really? Since you didn't give birth to a son, should I take the money I earn now back and give it to Brother Cai Rong and the others to study?"

While Li Xiaohan was talking, he paid attention to Wang's expression. As expected, when talking about himself, Wang's eyes gradually became brighter, although this light was not so innocent. Li Xiaohan continued, "Mom, look at my sister. , my sister is still so young, she doesn't understand anything. You have to stand up. If you don't stand up, what will she do? She may not be as smart as me. If I don't have a mother to protect me, it will be even harder in the future. ."

Li Xiaohan said, motioning to Mrs. Wang Wen to hand the child to Ms. Wang.

Mrs. Wang Wen received the signal and put the child next to Mrs. Wang. Mrs. Wang turned sideways, gently touched the child's forehead, and finally showed a tearful smile.

Only then did Li Xiaohan see what the baby looked like. This was the first time she saw a newborn baby. It had a red face, a pointed head, few hairs, and was small and weak. It was really not that good-looking. .

Thinking this way, Li Xiaohan said, "Sister... she looks real, okay."

Li Xiaohan was speechless, but everyone present understood what she meant.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Your sister was just a little fatter than you when she was born. She is exactly the same as when you were a child. Children are like this, just grow out." Wang finally showed some life and said with pity, "Our sister will grow up in the future. When she grows up, she is just like my sister, smart and beautiful."

Seeing that Ms. Wang finally regained her energy, Li Xiaohan said hurriedly, "Dad, go to the kitchen and order something for mom to eat."

In fact, Aunt He had been preparing brown sugar eggs, and she quickly handed them to Li Xiandong.

When Mrs. Wang heard Li Xiandong, she lowered her head again and her smile faded. After all, she felt sorry for Li Xiandong.

But after a moment, he raised his head again and asked anxiously, "Her father, do you think my sister looks like Xiaohan."

This is a daughter, not the son her father wanted. He cannot let the child's father get bored .

Li Xiandong looked at it carefully and didn't know what he thought of. He smiled and said, "Well, he looks like Xiaohan when he was a child."

A happy smile finally appeared on Wang's face.

Li Xiaohan felt a little more relaxed. Anyway, she was the eldest mother now. "Dad, have you decided on a name for your sister?"

"Just call me after my sister. She was born on Frost's Day. Li Shuang's name is not very nice, so her name is Li Xiaoshuang."

"Li Xiaoshuang, Li Xiaoshuang," Li Xiaohan touched the baby's chin, "From now on, you will hang out with me."

Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang looked at each other and smiled, and the atmosphere in the delivery room finally became joyful.

After Mrs. Wang ate the brown sugar eggs and fell asleep, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong quietly exited the room, leaving Mrs. He in the room looking at the baby.

"Dad, if it doesn't work, you can adopt one from the clan." Li Xiaohan was eating lunch. Wang just gave birth, so he couldn't take care of it. Now that Wang is asleep, the two of them can eat. , "Or, when I grow up, I will recruit a son-in-law. I will be richer in the future, which is not a difficult task. I will take advantage of it."

Both of them are quite old in this era. Doctor Zhang also said before that they were lucky to have this child, and it would be difficult to get pregnant again.

Li Xiandong was tempted for a moment. Being able to have a descendant of his own blood was very attractive to him. However, after a while, he still said in a solemn voice, "It's not that simple. How can a good man be willing to marry into a wife?" How many good sons-in-law can you recruit? What will you do with the rest of your life? Don't talk nonsense, I'll think about it again."

He is very upset now.

"Sure, Dad, think about it slowly, don't be in a hurry." Li Xiaohan said.

Her father was telling the truth. It was true that it was difficult to find a suitable man in ancient times. It was even harder to find a suitable man who was willing to marry her.

She has no expectations for love and marriage. Her parents in her previous life were like-minded people who had always known each other and loved each other. In this life, Li Xiandong and the Wang family are actually not bad either.

If in order to continue the family line, he had to accept three wives and four concubines, or if he had to accept a man who was not qualified in all aspects and was willing to marry into his wife, Li Xiaohan felt that it was better to be single. As long as she has money, she will adopt one from the clan.

It's just that she needs to be able to make more money. It's not enough now. Buying a house will almost cost her everything. Where is the next opportunity to make money? Li Xiaohan thought secretly in his heart.

Li Xiaohan was thinking about new opportunities, and at the same time, people in the city were talking about Li Xiaohan.

"Second Young Master, the profits of Tongfu Restaurant this quarter have returned to normal. Not only have the losses from the previous quarter been made up, but they have even increased significantly. According to Wuerqi Wuerba Yi" Tongfu The restaurant manager lowered his head and reported the statistics for this quarter.

Because of the loss in the previous quarter, the shopkeeper lost a lot of face, so this quarter, the shopkeeper is preparing to use this data to make a good turnaround.

"So the pepper wine is so popular?" Zhang Fu put down the account book and asked. Of course he can understand the numbers on the account, but there are some things where he still has to hear the details.

"Back to the Second Young Master, yes. This wine is very strong and makes the whole body warm after drinking it. There are few people who don't like it. Especially people in the cold northwest love it very much." the shopkeeper replied.

"Is there anyone who doesn't like it?" Zhang Fu asked with a frown. If a thing is too perfect, it is impossible to be liked by everyone. Either it hasn't been discovered yet, and thunder will break out once it is discovered, or the observation is not enough.

The shopkeeper was shocked, thought about it carefully, and replied cautiously, "No, there are some old-fashioned people who don't like it very much, and they have lost the aftertaste of slowly tasting the wine."

The shopkeeper thought that Zhang Fu would be angry, but after hearing this, Zhang Fu's face relaxed a lot, and he asked after a while, "How is the production of Miss Li? Can we supply it?"

Speaking of this, the shopkeeper showed a look of embarrassment on his face. This was really like looking at the money in front of him but not being able to make it.

The sweet pepper wine from Tongfu Restaurant is more than twice as expensive as that from Qinggang. Even so, there are still fur traders from the north waving their money and saying they want to purchase goods. Especially now that winter has begun in the north, this wine is the most suitable. I drank it in winter. Even the people in the south said that this wine was novel and wanted to give it a try.

However, the shopkeeper told Li Xiaohan that Li Xiaohan's reply was still a family workshop and could not keep up, so he should save some money and sell more.

The shopkeeper remembered the last time Li Xiaohan replied to him: Her mother was about to give birth and she was really busy and had to reduce production. The shopkeeper was frightened and begged repeatedly to keep her share.

The shopkeeper thought about adding more money, but it was of no use. The shopkeeper was helpless. The second young master also said that Miss Li could not be intimidated. Apart from inducement, the shopkeeper had no other choice. Now, when the second young master asked, the shopkeeper could only tell the truth.

"The output can't keep up." Zhang Fu put down the teacup, "When will Miss Li come to Fucheng?"

"On every fifth and tenth day, Miss Li has a stall in the West Market." The shopkeeper said, "Second Young Master, would you like me to help you make an appointment with Miss Li?"

"No, I'll be thirty tomorrow. I'll meet Miss Li in person." Zhang Fu said.

"Yes." The shopkeeper lowered his head, no longer doubting it, and secretly prayed in his heart that the second young master could persuade Miss Li to increase production.

And outside Fucheng, a group of Qingqi rode on the dust towards Dingcheng. The 30th was here again, and it was time to pick up the wine again. The Qing Gang has opened the market outside Fucheng. Now outside Fucheng is the original Fucheng. Everyone is queuing up to buy the pepper wine.

And the pepper base is also quite popular nowadays. The Qing Gang is preparing to bring in a batch, and this time they want to have a good talk with Miss Li.

On September 29th, Li Xiaohan, who was missed by everyone, appeared at Renhetang in Fucheng.

"You said your mother has given birth and you want me to go over to the clinic to check on you?" Dr. Zhang asked doubtfully.

"Yes." Li Xiaohan nodded.

"Heavy bleeding after childbirth?" That shouldn't be the case. How could you have heavy bleeding after childbirth only the next day?

"No." Li Xiaohan shook his head.

"Postpartum fever?" This didn't seem like she was particularly anxious.

"No." Li Xiaohan wanted to say something, but he could only shake his head honestly.

"Ahem, what do you want from me? Just ask Wen Po." Doctor Zhang refused and continued to sort out his medicine list. As the top doctor of Renhetang, he was also very busy. Besides, women giving birth is really not his strong point.

"Mr. Wen has already checked it out. There is no problem and the birth is going well. But I think, Dr. Zhang, you have been helping my mother see the doctor after all, so I hope that Dr. Zhang can help me check it out again, so that we can feel at ease." ." Li Xiaohan explained.

"Miss Li, women have to take care of themselves when giving birth to children. I know you are worried, but if you come to me, I can't really do anything about it." Dr. Zhang said seriously and thoughtfully. refused.

"Okay. Doctor Zhang, my mother actually gave birth to a daughter. I was thinking that she might want to continue giving birth. But I'm afraid her body won't be able to bear it, so I want you to take a look. I'm not saying "I am recovering from my confinement disease. When she gave birth to me, she probably didn't have the conditions, so I wanted to ask you to come over and help me see if I could take care of her better," Li Xiaohan said.

Doctor Zhang looked at Li Xiaohan and was finally convinced. He picked up the medicine box and said, "Okay, I'll go and take a look with you."

The two returned to Gumen Alley together, and Wang knew that Li Xiaohan had gone to invite Doctor Zhang. My heart was both sweet and bitter, but I just felt that my daughter was caring and stretched out her hand to feel Doctor Zhang's pulse.

"Nothing, just keep it as normal. Eat and drink well, sleep more and cry less, no need to take medicine." After a while, Doctor Zhang took back his hand and said calmly.

As Doctor Zhang finished speaking, Mrs. Wang on the bed and Li Xiandong beside the bed both showed relaxed expressions.

"Father, mother, I'm going to see Doctor Zhang off." Li Xiaohan said, leading Doctor Zhang out.

Dr. Zhang was escorted to the door of the hospital, but Li Xiaohan did not leave. Dr. Zhang thought she was still uneasy, so he said, "Miss Li, your mother's body has been damaged over time. She is already thin. I want to It is impossible to nurse her into a strong woman. Now that she has given birth to this child, all she can do is to take good care of her and raise her as much as possible. As for whether she will have children in the future, then It all depends on fate. Moreover, giving birth is not just a woman's business, your father's body has also been emptied. These two people are a little hung up on each other."

Li Xiaohan was silent for a while and said, "I understand, Doctor Zhang. Thank you, Doctor Zhang."

After a pause, Li Xiaohan seemed to hesitate, "Doctor Zhang, I wonder if you have heard of..."

The unspoken words were stuck in his mouth. In fact, Li Xiaohan was very hesitant about whether to tell Dr. Zhang about alcohol. She knows that alcohol can disinfect, and for a doctor, if used well, it can save too many lives.

However, the problem now is that no one can explain how alcohol sterilizes and disinfects. There is no microscope and no experimental data to prove that alcohol is actually wine with a higher concentration. Maybe the concentration is too high. What will happen if you accidentally drink it? , everyone thought it was poison.

Li Xiaohan knew that Dr. Zhang was a good doctor, but it was difficult to explain. Doctor Zhang would not have extraordinary trust in her like Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang. He would believe whatever she said.

After endless thoughts, Li Xiaohan finally shut up.

However, Li Xiaohan closed his mouth and could not take back the words he was about to say. Doctor Zhang asked, "Have you heard of anything?"

"It's nothing. I just said something wrong." Li Xiaohan tried his best to smile.

"You think I'm confused." However, at this time, Dr. Zhang showed the persistence of a technician and said, "What did you want to ask me just now?"

"Oh, I want to ask you if you know Qin Pi." In his mind, Li Xiaohan thought of the familiar name he heard in Renhetang, "I heard it mentioned by someone last time, and it felt very familiar somehow. "

"Oh, Qinpi, the bark of the ash tree, also called green nut and white wattle tree. After being processed, it has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, stopping diarrhea and improving eyesight." Doctor Zhang thought Li Xiaohan wanted to ask something, but it turned out that he was just asking. Qin Pi, although this thing is a bit sensitive, it is not impossible to say.

"...Is it also called an ash tree?" Li Xiaohan asked hoarsely.

"Ash tree? I've never heard of it. What is this?" Dr. Zhang was confused.

"Is this tree prone to a kind of insect that looks like a layer of white frost in autumn?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"Oh, it's true. You understand it very well." Dr. Zhang praised. He knew that Li Xiaohan was very smart about planting these medicinal materials. I heard that the Li family planted Eucommia ulmoides this year. This is a good thing. "But don't even think about planting this ash tree. It's not suitable."

"Why isn't it suitable?" Li Xiaohan asked with a frown.

"This ash tree is strong but not hard, soft but not broken. It is most suitable for making gun bodies. Do you know where the largest ash forest in the Wei Dynasty is? In our place, King Ding used guns, and he had an army of ten thousand people under his command. Lance Corps, you can plant a few trees, but if you plant too many, it's ultimately not good. Besides, our medicine shop buys this stuff cheaply, so you can't sell it at a high price."

Doctor Zhang explained, picked up the medicine box and left, "Okay, I'm leaving. You don't have to send it, just go back. I know this city better than you."

It was so. Thinking of the inextricable relationship between Renhetang and Prince Ding, Li Xiaohan naturally understood the reason why Dr. Zhang said so much that it was cheaper to purchase.

However, this ash tree can not only make medicine. But how to say it? Still have to think long term.

After watching Doctor Zhang leave, Li Xiaohan turned around and went home, frowning and thinking about the ash tree. However, he saw Li Xiandong standing blankly at the entrance of the hospital, holding a money bag in his hand. It seemed that he was here. The medical fee is charged.

"Dad, did you hear that?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"Yes. I heard it." Li Xiandong sighed deeply and replied with a wry smile.

It's not one person's problem, it's all his past humiliation and hard work that has harmed his wife and children. There are countless mistakes, but ultimately it's his fault of incompetence in the past. Now it is not enough for Ji's daughter to worry about them.

"Don't tell your mother yet, wait until she is ready for confinement first. I will worry about this from now on. You are a girl, why do you have to worry so much?" How can a girl worry about these things, and How could his daughter be so calm about getting married? Li Xiandong was puzzled. Could it be that he hadn't figured it out yet?

"Let's talk about it, dad. There's no rush in this matter, take your time." Li Xiaohan said, she was only fourteen years old, it was too early to talk about getting married. It will take at least another ten years. Making money is still important right now.

September 30th.

On her third day of life, Li Xiaoshuang was still red-skinned, but she had already begun to eat, drink, relax and sleep.

Fortunately, Aunt He was invited, otherwise Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan would be too busy. In the past, there have never been so many people waiting for a pregnant woman. Many years ago, when Mrs. Wang gave birth to Li Xiaohan, she had to support herself and got out of bed in a few days.

However, now that Doctor Zhang wants to take good care of her, it is hard for Mrs. Wang to work too much. Apart from breastfeeding, she is not allowed to do anything else.

It's just that Aunt He only comes to work during the day, and there are still two people, Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan, at night. In fact, the most important thing is Li Xiandong. Li Xiaohan doesn't dare to hug this little guy who is so soft that he has no bones. On the contrary, Li Xiandong, who usually looked rough, was particularly skillful in holding her.

"Mr. Li really loves his children." Aunt He sighed. How can an old man be willing to hold a child and change his diaper? I have never seen Mr. Li like this.

Li Xiandong smiled naively. When Li Xiaohan was born, he was still young and didn't understand at that time. He just asked Mrs. Wang a few words and was kicked out by his stepmother. Now that I think about it, I have missed a lot.

The family was enjoying themselves happily when suddenly there was a knock on the door, "Master, it's me, Lotus."

"Dad, Mom, Lotus is here. I'll open the door."

Today is the day for Qing Gang to get the wine and Li Hehua to go out to the stall. Li Xiaohan has asked Li Dazhuang to take the message back, and asked Li Hehua to help open the door of the wing, and let Qing Gang get the wine himself. She will go back to brew it in two days. She won't go to the stall today, and will let Li Dazhuang drive Li Hehua into the city. He can make as many bases as he wants.

Now that I think about it, it seems that the lotus flowers are sold out and they are here.

Li Xiaohan thought about it and opened the courtyard door.

"Master, the people from Tongfu Restaurant are looking for you." Li Hehua said first. These people were waiting for her when she left the stall. Li Hehua saw that the shopkeeper was indeed familiar with them, so she brought them over.

The autumn sunshine was bright and bright. Li Xiaohan was standing by the door wearing a grass-green coat and skirt, with black hair and bright eyes, looking at the person in front of him.

"Hello, Miss Li, long time no see." Zhang Fu was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe with dark patterns, looking like a noble prince.

"Second Young Master Zhang, long time no see."

It has been almost a year, and I am no longer the same Li Xiaohan who had nothing. Now, we can sit down and talk.

=== Chapter === 85

Li Xiaohan brought this group of people in, and Li Xiandong was already waiting in the main room. Li Xiandong was surprised when he saw Zhang Fu and the shopkeeper of Tongfu Restaurant coming in with Li Hehua.

"Congratulations to Mr. Li on your daughter's fortune." Zhang Fu sent the congratulatory gift. Fortunately, he heard from Li Hehua before coming that Mrs. Wang was pregnant, so it was not rude. I just saw it on the right side of the door. There is a red scarf hanging on it, which means that the baby is a daughter.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang." Li Xiandong took the gift with a smile and thanked him.

With such a smart look in Zhang Fu's eyes, he naturally saw that the joy in Li Xiandong's eyes was genuine joy, and he had a high opinion of Li Xiandong for a while. Everyone can see that in Li Xiandong's situation, he should long for a son, but after giving birth to a daughter, he is not angry or angry, and is happy from the bottom of his heart, which is beyond Zhang Fu's understanding of ordinary farmers. . No wonder I could raise a daughter like Li Xiaohan.

Li Xiaohan served hot tea to several people, mainly Zhang Fu and the owner of Tongfu Restaurant. Li Hehua and Li Dazhuang were his own. Li Xiaohan didn't have any preference for tea, and he bought ordinary tea, but Mr. Zhang didn't seem to care about drinking it.

After sending the congratulatory gifts and saying a few polite words, everyone knew that Mr. Zhang had something serious to discuss with Li Xiaohan. Li Hehua went to visit the Wang family. Li Dazhuang, who had sent Li Hehua over, followed Li Xiandong to the kitchen.

The Wang family was giving birth, and the Zhao family wanted to pick peppers to dry and dry. She couldn't get out of the house to go to Fucheng, so she asked Li Dazhuang to bring two fresh and fat hens to replenish the Wang family's health. All three of Li Dazhuang's family are men, so there is no saying that men should not go into the kitchen, otherwise they will starve to death. The two men had nothing to do and nowhere to go, so they simply boiled water to kill the chickens so they could cook later.

In the main room, Zhang Fu and Li Xiaohan sat opposite each other. Today, Li Xiandong was used to it. He was the chief seat in his home, but Zhang Fu sat on the right side of the lower head and Li Xiaohan sat on the left side of the lower head.

The shopkeeper went out to admire the courtyard view of Li Xiandong's house with a wink. There were only two people left in the main room. Zhang Fu spoke first, "It's really rude to come and disturb me today."

"Oh, it's okay. Mr. Zhang is polite. I just don't know why Mr. Zhang came to her house." Li Xiaohan asked. Both of them knew that Mr. Zhang would not come to her house for no reason. .

Zhang Fu put down the tea cup, raised his hands and saluted, and said solemnly, "I came here today to ask Miss Li for help with something."

Please help me?

Li Xiaohan felt a sense of uncertainty in his heart. With Second Young Master Zhang's connections, status and resources, what can I do to help?

"I think Miss Li must have noticed that the price of food near Fucheng is rising day by day." Zhang Fu paused for a moment, but then changed the subject and said, "That day at the cattle market, I saw Miss Li asking about the Yamen officials. When the government sells cattle, is it only available in Dingcheng? When will the Qingcheng next door arrive? I can tell Miss Li now that the cattle fair is only available in Dingcheng, not even Qicheng."

Sure enough, he guessed what he said that day when he bought cattle and asked about the officials. Li Xiaohan frowned slightly, but did this have anything to do with the price of food? Can't your grandson just gain a reputation in your territory, and King Ding can't help but want to raise food to rebel?

"The gathering of cattle is just on the surface. The imperial court secretly ordered King Ding to reduce his troops. Moreover, this year, the court procrastinated and only provided 50,000 army rations for the 100,000 troops in Dingcheng. Therefore, King Ding had no choice but to purchase the rations himself. , causing the price of food to rise." Zhang Fu said with a wry smile, "In recent years, the weather has become increasingly cold. Every autumn and winter, the Tatar cattle and sheep die of frostbite. They have not enough food, so they must come to snatch it. This is a battle for survival. There is no sense of luck. At this time, the troops are reduced, and how can the remaining soldiers resist the Western Tatar cavalry."

Li Xiaohan glared at Zhang Fu, why did you tell me such secret news?

Don't you know that the more people know, the shorter their lives are?

Please trouble me, do you think I have a solution?

I am a peasant girl, so what can I do?

"Miss Li, don't be angry. These words came from my mouth and entered your ears. I guarantee that no one else will know. Shopkeeper Chen's ears will close on their own."

Li Xiaohan looked outside and saw the shopkeeper Chen of Tongfu Restaurant squatting outside the courtyard door farthest from the main room. In the kitchen, Li Xiandong and the others seemed to be tinkling. Zhang Fu's voice was very low just now. The others probably At most, you can only hear them talking, but you may not be able to hear clearly what they say.

It's just that Li Xiaohan didn't want to hear such important news. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, feeling a little bitter. At this time, he could only pretend to be weak, "Thank you Mr. Zhang for your trust. But, Mr. Zhang and It's useless for me to say this. Military and national affairs are important matters, and we, the common people, have low power and life like duckweed. We are just drifting with the tide, and we don't have any ideas."

In fact, I was thinking crazily, no wonder King Ding wanted to hoard food. There was not enough food for a hundred thousand troops. Let alone resisting the Tatars, King Ding himself had not injured his muscles and bones, so he probably wouldn't be able to stabilize himself.

People who engage in politics have really dirty minds. To reduce the military power of King Ding in this way, first let King Ding cut a wave by himself, and then ask Xita to help cut a wave. Even if King Ding can hold on, his vitality will definitely be severely damaged. It's best not to be able to hold on, the Tatars attack, and the court sends troops to support and take charge. The vassal king Ding will no longer be a threat.

But what should they do, the common people?

If King Ding is struggling to survive, he will inevitably increase taxes and collect grain and grass from the fief. This is pretty good, but if King Ding cannot hold on, and Xitar enters the city, the people under King Ding's jurisdiction will suffer first, especially those people near Ding City, who have full hatred value. .

What should I do? Should I escape first?

Although I remember that the area near Ding City was never breached in the book, and King Ding's lair was quite stable. But nothing is absolute, what if I, a butterfly, flaps its wings and changes my destiny.

But where to escape?

Let's not talk about whether Li Xiandong and the Wang family are willing to escape. Even if they are willing, Li Xiaoshuang is only a big boy and has a family of three. The only one who can be considered to have some fighting ability is Li Xiandong. Li Xiandong is just an old man. Peasants are no longer safe in their clans.

The more Li Xiaohan thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. He hated Zhang Fu for telling him the news, but he was also grateful for Zhang Fu telling him the news. In the end, he was grateful for being in the upper hand. He knew more and could be better. Better advance action.

Zhang Fu looked at Li Xiaohan's rapidly changing expression and explained, "I didn't explain it in detail enough. We have already raised enough military rations for this year, so Miss Li doesn't have to worry."

Li Xiaohan breathed a sigh of relief.

That is to say, as a local vassal king, he has been in business for many years and is still the final winner. How could he be defeated by this mere 50,000 army rations? It is very likely that this hoarding of food until the price of food rises is just a show for the court. of. After all, the imperial court did not believe that King Ding could cut off his troops so neatly. At least he struggled twice, but in the end there was no other way but to cut down the troops.

None of them are fuel-efficient lamps, and they only suffer for ordinary people like themselves. It still lacks the iron fist of socialism.

He cursed a hundred times in his heart, but Li Xiaohan couldn't help but relax a little. Prince Ding had better be cunning, but, "Now that the food and grass problem has been solved, what does Mr. Zhang want from me?"

Although you can't solve the problem of food and grass by yourself, the problem of food and grass is no longer a problem, so there is no need to look for yourself.

"Although this year's food and grass problem has been solved, what will happen after next year is uncertain. The court's food and grass supply may be reduced, and the accumulation in the city can only be sustained for a while. A vassal fiefdom can support successive years of production. The war is unsustainable." Zhang Fu said with a frown.

Li Xiaohan nodded in his heart.

This is indeed the truth. War is a huge machine that burns money. Sometimes the whole country can support it, even the national treasury can be burned. Although the attack of the Western Tartars was not so large that it took the whole country to resist, but without the support of the imperial court, there would only be suppression, but with the support of a vassal fiefdom If so, it is indeed impossible.

"But, I can't do anything about it." Li Xiaohan was puzzled.

What bothers Li Xiaohan the most now is why Zhang Fu is looking for him. What Zhang Fu could know about in his hands was only a sweet pepper and a cake. At most, he could add a Eucommia ulmoides plant, and the Panax notoginseng was still hidden.

However, even if these things are added up, it is not that Li Xiaohan underestimates himself, no matter what, he cannot bear this burden, "You want the secret recipe of pepper wine? It won't be of much use."

This thing can only be the icing on the cake. What Ding Wang needs is timely help, preferably the kind of improved seeds that can produce ten thousand kilograms per mu.

"To be fair to Miss Li, Zhang is not talented. He is responsible for raising part of the logistics under King Ding, including grain, medicinal materials, silver, etc." Zhang Fu looked at Li Xiaohan with bright eyes, "What Zhang wants is not Fanchan." Jiaojiu is not someone else, but Miss Li."

"Although we don't have much contact with each other, Miss Li is particularly impressive. She is full of whimsical ideas and is extremely good at solving situations in desperate situations. Ordinary difficulties do not concern Miss Li at all." Zhang Fu thought of the eighty acres of farmland. , "At this time, we are facing difficulties on all sides. The Dingwang fiefdom is not a fertile land. We need someone to be the spear to break through."

Li Xiaohan didn't expect Zhang Fu to say these words. Even in her previous life, her boss appointed her as the person in charge of the medicinal material base, but he only said that she was careful and steady, and never said that she had the talent to charge.

Unexpectedly, in such a feudal male-dominated society, it would receive such evaluation.

After being lost for a long time, Li Xiaohan did not dare to lose himself in front of the praise, "Mr. Zhang, you praise me so much. I am just an ordinary farm girl. What I do on weekdays is just farming and doing small business. Mr. Zhang shouldn't value him so much."

"Miss Li, there is no distinction between men and women when it comes to intelligence. If Miss Li really farmed and did some small business as she said, she would not have asked that question in Niuji. If you say this, you won't have any trouble buying real estate in Fucheng at this time of rising food prices. You have an overall view and are sensitive to the dangers and have responded to them."

"This is just instinct. Even so, I'm only good at defense and don't have the talent to break out of an encirclement as Mr. Zhang said."

"Miss Li, you have been experimenting in every possible way since you discovered pepper. My mother wanted to cooperate with you in the cake business, but you only focused on growing pepper. From planting pepper, to cooperating with Qinggang, to Tongfu The restaurant has found you, and everything is within your plan. I believe that you can freely supply pepper wine next year. Not only has the pepper production increased, but you and everyone's interests are tied together. Okay, no one in the city now knows your name, Miss Fanjiao Li. The potential for exclusive profits from Fanjiao is visible to the naked eye. Now no one can touch you for the interests of Fanjiao. You have been using it for two years Time has laid out a plan to leverage the greatest benefits at the least cost. You told me that you don't have the talent to break out of the encirclement."

"You spy on me?"

"No, except for when Miss Li showed up at Renhetang selling Panax notoginseng, I thought Miss Li was a spy approaching my home. I checked once and found out that all the subsequent information was obtained through normal correspondence or coincidence, including between you and the Qing Gang. Cooperation. The request for Miss Li is just my personal judgment. I believe that my own vision is better than the combination of other people's information."

That means they have checked. Li Xiaohan glanced at Zhang Fu, but at that time his family had not been separated yet, so all he found were trivial things.

Zhang Fu felt a little weak inexplicably when Li Xiaohan glanced at him. But at that time, Li Xiaohan had a body like dried bean sprouts, but he turned out to be so smart. It wouldn't be too much to check it out for yourself, right?

"Ahem, I apologize to Miss Li for what happened at the beginning."

"Oh, I accepted it. I hope Mr. Zhang won't do it again. I don't like being investigated."

"knew."

"What about Miss Li?" Zhang Fu asked. He spent so much effort to ask, and after saying everything he could, would it be possible?

"Mr. Zhang, you have said so much. I know what kind of person I am. What about you? What do you use to impress me? Money? Fame and fortune? Status?"

"I have never formally introduced myself to Miss Li, although I believe Miss Li has already guessed it. I am Zhang Fu, currently the second son of General Zhang Zhen. I am responsible for half of the military supplies under the king's command, and there may be more in the future. . King Ding is not a weak person. He did not say that when needed that day, one hundred thousand King Ding's troops have been bathed in blood all year round. Now that there is no need for it, he still has to put down his sword and stretch his neck to kill. The wind will blow the next day. At that time, Miss Li deserves the rights, status, reputation, and money, and I assure you that within my ability, I will not lose even half a cent because you are a woman."

The wind follows the dragon, and the clouds follow the tiger. When the wind blows, that is the day when the dragon turns into a dragon. Zhang Fu said it very cryptically, but also very straightforwardly.

"However, I think what should impress Miss Li the most is that in this era of upcoming turmoil, Miss Li will not want to leave her destiny in the hands of others. Miss Li, you are in control of your own destiny Man. Even without me, you will find your own opportunity."

Zhang Fu spoke slowly, word by word, but with great confidence.

Because he himself is such a person. It is a pity that the son of a surrendered general is too weak to practice martial arts. It's just that those who work hard govern others, and those who work hard govern others. He not only controls his own destiny, he can also control the destiny of these people.

"I need to think about it." Li Xiaohan said slowly.

"Such a big matter, we really should think about it carefully. When did Miss Li figure it out, she sent someone to find me at Tongfu Restaurant or Renhetang. I waited quietly for Miss Li's reply, hoping very much to hear from Li News about the girl." Zhang Fu stood up, bowed, drank the last sip of cold tea, suppressed the exhaustion in his heart, and left.

He never does anything he is unsure of, and he considers himself not incompetent. Before coming, he knew that it would be difficult to persuade Li Xiaohan, but he did not expect it to be so difficult. After all the chips were put down, there was only one consideration.

He knew that Li Xiaohan was already moved, but he couldn't guess what his next move would be. All we can do is wait.

After Zhang Fu left, Li Xiaohan sat quietly for a long time.

I don't know how long it took before Li Xiandong came over and asked softly, "Xiaohan, Mr. Zhang is gone? Do you want to continue sitting?"

"Well, I won't sit down anymore." Li Xiaohan took the last sip of cold tea and said, "Dad, I'm hungry, can I eat?"

Eat first. If you don't eat, your brain won't be able to burn enough.

"Okay, your mother-in-law Zhao asked Da Zhuang to bring the old hens she raised. The soup has been stewed and your mother has eaten it. Are you hungry? Why don't I serve you a bowl of soup first?" Li Xiandong said.

When he was thirteen or four years old, he also experienced that he would feel hungry the next moment after eating, and he would get up several times in the middle of the night to drink water.

"Okay." Li Xiaohan said, old hen soup is the best way to replenish the body. He has burned so many brain cells, so he really needs to replenish his body.

So Aunt He looked at her and saw that before the rice was cooked, the hostess had already drank the chicken soup. Not only the hostess drank it, but also the guests who came with her.

Li Hehua and Li Dazhuang are about the same age. They have been busy all morning. In Li Xiandong's eyes, they are just hungry. "Aunt He, let's cook this meal quickly. It's time for the children to eat." "

"Yes, Mr. Li." Aunt He didn't even look at it, and hurriedly cooked the food. The little one would wake up later, and the whole family would have to surround him.

At lunch, Li Xiaohan's appetite shocked everyone. He had just finished a large bowl of chicken soup, and Li Xiaohan finished two bowls of steamed fish, stir-fried pork, chopped green onion and eggs, garlic greens, and cold tofu. meal. That's a bowl as big as Li Xiandong's palm. Li Xiandong is a big farmer and can only eat two bowls.

"Xiaohan, can you hold it in?" Li Xiandong asked worriedly.

Li Xiaohan leaned his upper body back and quietly changed to a slightly more comfortable position. It was indeed a bit supportive, but he still wanted to save face and said, "It's okay. I'm a little full, but I've been getting hungry lately."

"Master, have you grown so much recently that you are often hungry?" Li Hehua swallowed the mouthful of food and asked, "My brother was like this at that time. He would complain that he was hungry every now and then. , eat three bowls of rice, like the bamboo pole, rising slowly. At that time, my mother said that my brother's eating made her panic, and she would watch him three times a day to save food. I see that you have grown a lot recently. , when did you do this?"

"A few months ago." Li Xiaohan has indeed grown a lot taller recently. It is estimated that she is already over 1.6 meters tall, which is not low in ancient times, not to mention that she can still grow taller. During this period of time, she often woke up with cramps in her legs at night. The milk-producing goat at home had been replaced by two. She never dared to cut off the daily goat milk, except for these few days, in Fucheng It is indeed inconvenient to raise a sheep here.

"Then you can still grow. My brother grew for more than a year during that time." Li Hehua said carelessly, "I also want to grow taller, and I also need to eat more."

Li Hehua ate the rice fiercely, and Li Dazhuang ate too.

Li Xiandong secretly rejoiced that he had cooked a little too much today. He originally thought that Young Master Zhang might stay for dinner, but unexpectedly, Young Master Zhang did not stay and there would be enough food. Thinking about the food stored at home, Li Xiandong felt that he could still have enough to eat, and he felt a little more at ease.

After finishing the meal, Li Xiaohan said, "Dad, I have something to talk to Xin and my brother, and I have to go out. Hehua and Dazhuang, please wait for me here. I will go back to Pingshan Village with you tonight. The wine sent by the Qing Gang needs to be brewed tomorrow."

How can Zhang Fu say it? He said that 100,000 troops fought against the Western Tartars. Who knows whether King Ding supported his troops and respected himself? There was really a conflict. The official residence newspaper must have recorded it in previous years. Li Xinhe studied in official studies and should be able to find some information. Speaking of which, this book by Brother Xinhe is really worth reading.

Also, I had never paid attention to the news about government corvee before. In my memory, Li Xiandong seemed to have served in the winter, but there was no military service. If King Ding himself had strong soldiers and horses, he would not need it. When civilians go to perform military service, it is enough to perform hard labor.

Now Zhang Fu said that the court wanted King Ding to reduce the army, and King Ding was definitely not willing to do so. However, King Ding had already pretended to hoard grain and raise food prices to confuse the situation, and he might pretend to cut the army to fool the court. If you want to see the situation of corvee service in previous years, you have to go back and ask the clan leader. The clan leader knows best.

We still have to see what the news is like outside Fucheng. I don't know how the Qinggang is developing outside Fucheng.

Li Xiaohan thought about it. After eating, his head started to work again.

"You want to go back to Pingshan Village. Can you make wine alone?" Li Xiandong asked worriedly. He couldn't get away now. Li Xiaoshuang had to wake up several times during the night. Wang could not live without people around him.

"I can do it. Let Hehua help me when the time comes." Li Xiaohan didn't lie. The news about her going back to visit the patriarch was true, but the news about making wine was also true. No matter how big the news is, it is not as important as the actual facts at hand. In this situation, it is even more important to do the things you are doing well.

"Okay. You can control this yourself. If you are too tired, ask someone for help." Li Xiandong warned.

"Master, do you want me to accompany you to find Brother Xinhe?" Li Hehua knew that Li Xiaohan and Li Xinhe had something to say, so she didn't ask much. Hehe, smart people think more and do more. Brother Xinhe and Master are both smart people.

"No, you've been standing for a long time. Take a break first. I'll be back soon." Li Xiaohan said angrily as he saw Li Hehua sitting aside without any sincerity.

"Hehe, hehehe." Li Hehua giggled.

Li Xiaohan nodded at Li Hehua in the air, stood up, straightened his clothes, and went out.

=== Chapter === 86

Li Xinhe, a student of Qingshan Academy, has had some doubts about himself recently. In the past, he always thought that he was a person with firm beliefs and upright actions. But now, when he heard that the academy employee said that his sister came to see him, Li Xinhe First, my heart suddenly shrank, and then I instinctively wanted to run away. Finally, my reason defeated my instinct, but I walked out as if I was righteous.

If Li Xinhe had modern knowledge, he might conclude that every time Li Xiaohan came to him, he would bring him some shocking news. He might have had a stress reaction to Li Xiaohan. Instinctively, he is protecting his precarious cognitive world.

It's just that Li Xinhe didn't have modern knowledge, so at this moment Li Xinhe could only guess while walking towards the courtyard gate.

Li Xiaohan didn't know that she had brought such a big psychological shadow to this native scholar. At this moment, when she saw Li Xinhe walking out, she nodded secretly: Well, brother Xinhe has gained a little weight. Having recovered from the previous blow, this is what scholars should be like, never giving up despite every setback.

Thinking this way, Li Xiaohan smiled sweeter and sweeter, "Brother Xinhe."

Li Xinhe's head was numb and he said, "Sister Xiaohan is here again."

"Yes, Brother Xinhe, I got a piece of news recently." Li Xiaohan looked around. The square at the front gate of Qingshan Academy is really a good place for whispering. It is wide and unobstructed. There is no one to hide around. As long as He lowered his voice and was not afraid of people overhearing, "It is said that King Ding is hoarding food because the court has only allocated half of the food and grass this year. King Ding estimates that the Western Tartars may come to plunder this winter, so he can only stock up on food and grass to prepare for war. "

"I wonder, brother Xinhe, if there are any official residence reports in your academy? Are there any records of previous years' battle reports? How was the battle? How was the victory or defeat? How were the casualties?" Li Xiaohan said softly what he wanted.

In fact, she paid little attention to the war situation in her previous life. After all, it was a relatively peaceful era, and her interest was not in this aspect, so the questions she wanted to ask were relatively vague and she could only ask I hope Li Xinhe can collect enough information.

"Where did you get the news? How can you tell others such secret information at will? Do you know that it is very dangerous for you to do this?" Li Xinhe's heart was shocked. How did my clan sister know about such sensitive news about the imperial court's food supply? Thinking back to the last time the clan sister asked me to check the price of food, I was really frightened.

"The second young master Zhang told me is the second young master of General Zhang Zhen's residence, Renhetanghe, the owner of Tongfu Restaurant. I believe that brother Xinhe, you are not a casual person, and I only told you this matter." Li Xiaohan said.

In fact, she still concealed something from Li Xinhe, but brother Xinhe had lost so much weight last time, so she didn't irritate him anymore. Moreover, Li Xinhe can consider her safety first at this time to prove that she has not misjudged the person, and then take it slow in the future.

Renhetang, Tongfu Restaurant, and Li Xinhe all know that they have a lot of business dealings with their clan sisters. The second young master Zhang also stayed at the Li family before, and it may be the friendship they established at that time.

Li Xinhe estimated that it should be like this, and he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. If it was Mr. Zhang who said it, it should have a certain degree of credibility. After all, Mr. Zhang didn't have to say this, so it's certain. It is indeed reasonable for the king to hoard food. "In previous years, I have indeed heard about the invasion of Western Tartars, and it is indeed the reason for the garrison of King Ding. But I don't know the details. I will check first. Information, I'll see you another day."

Li Xinhe has only been admitted to Qingshan Academy for more than half a year. Qingshan Academy is indeed the first academy near Dingcheng. There are so many books. Li Xinhe spent most of his time checking for gaps and absorbing information related to the imperial examination. For these I didn't pay much attention to military and political affairs.

"Okay, I'll wait for Xin and Brother. I currently live at No. 10, Gumen Lane, Zhongzongmen Street. I'm usually there in the afternoon. You can find me there."

"Have you moved to Fucheng? Where are Uncle Xiandong and Auntie? What will happen at home?" Li Xinhe wondered why he had missed so much news at once. It's just that there is still a lot of things going on at the clan sister's house.

"I'm moving here for a few days. I'm afraid that my mother will have some problems during the delivery. It's easier to find a doctor here in Fucheng. We'll go back to the village after a while. During this time, I'll be traveling between my house in Fucheng." Li Xiaohan explained. road.

In order to reduce trouble, their family bought a house in Fucheng and didn't tell the public much about it. That is to say, Mrs. Wang was about to give birth and she only told Mrs. Zhao, Li Hehua and others when they were ready to move. But now that her mother has given birth, according to etiquette, she has to go back and tell her clan members and her grandfather's family.

It's just water coming to cover the ground and soldiers coming to block it, it's not a big deal.

"That's OK, I'll remember it. You go back, I'll collect the information as soon as possible and tell you as soon as possible." Li Xinhe said.

"Brother Xinhe, I'm going back. This food box is for you. It's full of home-cooked food. Brother Xinhe, please make up for it." Li Xiaohan said, looking at Li Xinhe's body that was still thin even though he had gained a little weight. She did not leave the stall today, and Li Hehua and others did not expect that she would come to Li Xinhe, so they did not stay. However, there is still chicken soup at home, which is more suitable for Li Xinhe at this time.

Li Xinhe was slightly moved and took the food box, "Yes, I understand. You should be careful yourself, Mo Shenhe's things are too much."

"I know, Brother Xinhe, I'm just afraid that something big will happen, so I thought it'd be best to prepare in advance." Li Xiaohan replied. There is no way, in this world, even if you want to hide and live your own little life, you can't find a paradise to escape from the world.

Li Xinhe seemed to feel the same, and they were silent for a while. This topic was really helpless. You can't just cross the river by feeling the stones for the blind.

After explaining what needed to be said clearly, Li Xiaohan bid farewell to Li Xinhe and returned to Gumen Alley. Li Hehua and Li Dazhuang have rested. Li Xiaohan is packing his things. In fact, there is nothing to pack. He has everything at home. The main thing is to tell Mr. Wang that he has to go back for a day.

Although Wang's face still looked weak after giving birth, her expression became much more relaxed. She only warned, "Be careful when you go back. There were Da Zhuang and He Hua along the way. You are familiar with the road, so this is Don't be afraid. It's just that at night, you ask He Hua and your Auntie Ye to come over and stay with you. Don't live alone in the house. Do you understand?"

The Li family in Pingshan Village is now a two-room house, and there are so many valuable things in the house. Mrs. Wang is really afraid that if there is no one at home, thieves will come to visit at night, so she never dares to let Li Xiaohan be alone. Spending the night at home.

In order to be afraid that Li Xiaohan would betray her, Wang also told He Hua, "He Hua, your sister Xiao Han is very brave. Please tell your mother tonight and ask you to sleep with her for one night."

"Aunt, don't worry, I'll stay at your house tonight. I'll call my mother and my brother over and let my brother sleep in the main room." Li Hehua said with a big smile. As soon as he entered the main room, there was a lot of pepper and wine. There was still a sleeping place for his brother to guard.

"Sure, I'll leave it to you, Hehua. I'll thank you properly when I get back." Wang said with relief.

"Aunt, you're welcome, this is what I should do." Li Hehua really feels that this is what she should do. Their family has received so much kindness from the master, and now she is still learning the craft from the master and getting a share. , her mother is still receiving a daily salary of ten cents. It's just sleeping with him for one night, so that's nothing.

Li Xiaohan didn't object at all. This was Wang's worry. If she refused Wang, she would be more unstable, so she might as well accept it.

Moreover, she also wanted to live a good life. She had already died once, but she swore that she would live to be ninety-nine years old and rich with her share of the previous life. If a thief with no eyesight really breaks into her house after seeing the money, wouldn't it be very dangerous for her to be alone, so it's okay to have a few more people to take care of her.

Here Wang is telling Li Hehua, and over there Li Xiandong, who is carrying Da Zhuang Petunia, is also saying the same thing, "Da Zhuang, I'm not at home tonight. You, Xiaohan, and He Hua are the only ones at home. You My home is next door to mine, so please pay more attention to it at night. Thank you, uncle."

"Uncle Xiandong, don't worry. I'll go back and tell my father and brother that we three must pay more attention." Li Dazhuang said seriously.

"Hey, I'll leave it to you. Go back and drive slower." Li Xiandong patted the cow's butt and felt half relieved.

After chattering for a while, Li Dazhuang drove Li Hehua and Li Xiaohan home in an ox cart. It was already Shenshi. Zhao, Ye and others are busy drying the peppers at home. This is almost the last batch of peppers. After drying and preserving them, they can shovel the pepper seedlings and raise them for the coming year.

Seeing Li Xiaohan coming back, Mrs. Zhao hurriedly said, "Xiaohan, you're back. Are you tired? Are you hungry? Do you want to cook something for you?"

"Auntie, no, I'm not hungry yet. I'll wait until dinner." Li Xiaohan got out of the car, put down his things, and said with a smile, "I'm going to pack up. My mother gave birth to a sister, and I have to go to my grandfather's house to report the good news. , and I have to inform the clan leader about the addition of a new child. The official full moon feast with red eggs will be held after my parents come back."

In fact, it would be a matter of time to go and talk to the patriarch sooner or later. It was just that Li Xiaohan wanted to find an excuse to go to the patriarch's house.

"That's the truth. Go ahead and let me see what you brought with you?" said Zhao.

Although it was not a formal notice, if Li Xiaohan came back from Fucheng and entered Li Shengli's house empty-handed, it would not be considered rude, but it would not be considered polite either. In particular, Li Xiaohan's family is now more prosperous than other families, but the Wang family just gave birth to a daughter, and the future will be difficult. Zhao was good at human relations, so he thought of reminding Li Xiaohan.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiaohan raised the basket, opened it generously, and said, "I brought some pastries from Fucheng. My father said that my grandfather likes sweets, so he brought it back to honor his grandfather."

"Good boy, I'm the one who's worried. You Linglong sweetheart, you can't think of anything. Go ahead, tell the news and deliver the things and come back. You don't have to stay too long," said Zhao.

"Yeah. I know my aunt treats me well. I'm young, so I still need my aunt to give me more advice. Then, aunt, let me go to my grandfather's house." Li Xiaohan said.

Everyone heard and saw the questions and answers she had with Mrs. Zhao, not only Mrs. Ye and Mrs. Ma, but also Mrs. Hua'er.

Li Xiaohan carried the cakes and went out. Li Shengli was just hammering on the hoe at home, with a pensive look on his face. He didn't know what he was thinking.

"Grandpa, I'm back from Fucheng." Li Xiaohan knocked on the door and came in. Someone was at home. The door of the Li family's old house was open. Li Xiaohan saw Li Shengli banging the hoe in front of the yard and said.

"Oh, I'm back. How is your mother?" Li Shengli's tone was not very happy.

Buying a house in Fucheng was such a big deal, but the eldest son didn't even tell him. He even found out about it when he heard that his daughter-in-law had gone to the city to give birth. Although the family is separated, he is still his biological father. Does this mean that his father is no longer here?

"Congratulations to my grandfather. My mother gave birth to a younger sister. Both mother and daughter are safe. She is currently recuperating in Fucheng. My father asked me to come over and tell you that he will come back from Fucheng in a few days. Then we will serve wine and give red eggs to the clan members." Li Xiaohan said with joy, "Grandpa, these are the cakes my father brought back to you from Fucheng. I heard that you like to eat sweets, so my father specially selected them. The sweetest sugar cake ever."

"Oh, just leave it alone." Li Shengli frowned, feeling unhappy. What's the use of having another daughter?

"Grandpa, I'm going back first. I still have things to do at home." Li Xiaohan looked at Li Shengli's displeased expression. The process was over and he didn't want to stay any longer, so he left.

Li Shengli looked at Li Xiaohan's leaving figure and sighed deeply. What's the use of having a big family? After all, there is no son.

At that time, the eldest son's family was pregnant again, and he was also happy. The eldest son finally had a child. This son was his biological child after all, and he did not want his eldest son to have the reputation of being childless, which was not nice.

However, as the eldest son's family got better and better, and the family business became bigger and bigger, while he and his second and third sons were standing still, and even Cai Rong, who had high hopes for him, did not make a breakthrough, Li Shengli felt a little unhappy. . Especially since there were several children at home, and money became increasingly difficult for him to handle, Li Shengli was extremely angry when he thought about his eldest son taking care of his brothers, only to be kicked back.

Now, the eldest son has given birth to another daughter. Li Shengli was not happy at first, but just thinking about it, suddenly an idea came from nowhere. The eldest son's family has a bigger business, but there is no one who can break the pot and hang paper. None of them, but the second, third, and third children do.

Cai Rong is not successful, he is older, and Cai Rong still has to take the imperial examination, but the third family just gave birth to a boy last year. It's just that there were a lot of things going on, and there was no big deal. What can a baby this year old know? If you raise it, it will not be better than your own. If you have a wife, the relationship between the brothers in the family can be relaxed.

Isn't this the best of both worlds? The more he thought about it, the more it made sense, and Li Shengli's expression became gentler. When the boss came back, he would have to find an opportunity to talk to the boss about the pros and cons. This is for his own good.

Thinking of this, Li Shengli was not even annoyed with Li Xiaohan anymore. This granddaughter was a bit capable, and only if she had the ability could she help her parents' family.

Li Xiaohan didn't know that Li Shengli had already made up her mind. She was walking towards the clan leader's house. She was thinking about how to ask the clan leader about corvee labor without being abrupt. Unknowingly, she had already reached the door of the clan leader's house.

"Oh, it's Xiaohan who's back. Come in and sit down, come in and sit down." The patriarch's wife saw Li Xiaohan with sharp eyes, strode out with a smile, and pulled Li Xiaohan into the house.

Since Li Xiaohan used his connections to send Li Xinhe scientific examination materials from various places, and Li Xinhe passed the examination as a scholar, Li Xiaohan also opened up connections in Fucheng and notified Li Xinhe to enroll students at Qingshan Academy in Fucheng. , so that Li Xinhe can be admitted to Qingshan Academy to study. In the heart of the patriarch's wife, Li Xiaohan is just like her own daughter, a little closer than her daughter-in-law.

That is to say, the patriarch's daughter is married off, otherwise no one can tell who is the biological child if they stand together. For example, at this time, after the patriarch's wife pulled Li Xiaohan in, she asked repeatedly, "When did you come back? Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Are you tired?" Then she called the family to serve tea and cakes. Li Xiaohan was so enthusiastic that he almost couldn't resist.

It wasn't until Li Xiaohan said that his mother had given birth to a younger sister that he would come back first to report to the patriarch. The patriarch's wife saw that something was serious, so she went down.

"Well, I understand."

Another daughter, the patriarch sighed inwardly, but his face didn't show much, after all, Li Xiaohan was sitting below him. Now that the niece of the clan is capable and well-connected in the city, his son has benefited a lot, and the clan leader pays more attention to her.

However, this is a daughter, and I'm afraid some people's hearts will wander again.

"Patriarch, I would like to ask, what is the situation of the corvee in our village?" After much deliberation, Li Xiaohan decided to go straight to the point. If he asked, he would just say that he was out of curiosity.

"Is your father worried about this year's corvee? Your family can just hand over the labor payment." The patriarch mistakenly thought that Li Xiandong was busy with business. In addition, Wang had just given birth to a child and could not leave this year. He was worried about this year's corvee situation, so he explained.

"Money for service?" Li Xiaohan asked slightly confused. It seemed that money was used in lieu of labor, and the clan leader's tone sounded very ordinary.

"Oh, your family doesn't know much about it." The patriarch said. In the past, Lao Li's family would go directly to do corvee service. After all, this is labor service, not military service. There are always people who are reluctant to part with the money. You will be exempted after you start serving in the army at sixty. Generally, it involves building official residences, managing rivers, building cities, transporting official property, etc. It usually takes about a month. Your father has done it in previous years. If your family has money, you can explain it. Service money is a substitute for service. The service money is different every year, and it also depends on the content of the labor service. It is about one or two silver, so your family can prepare according to this."

"Don't you need to perform military service?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"Military service? That's a matter for military households. Do you want to ask the civilian husband? Don't worry about that. There are very few civilian soldiers under Ding City. King Ding has an army of 100,000, with strong soldiers and horses, and the support of the court, so there is no need for it. You guys." The clan leader is very proud. Being under the rule of King Ding, the clan leader still supports King Ding very much.

"I heard that the Tartars will attack every year. I wonder if it will happen this year?" Li Xiaohan was very worried.

"That's not a problem, there is King Ding."

"In all these years, you have never been called for military service? Not even civilians?"

"I have been the patriarch for so many years and I have never heard of it. Where did you get the news? Besides, you can't recruit your family through conscription. There is only one male in your family. There are quotas for conscription. Three men will be drawn, one will be drawn, and five men will be drawn. Draw two, and it won't be your turn."

As soon as the patriarch said these words, he realized that this was a bit too much. He was not talking about the lack of men.

It's just that he has been the clan leader for many years and is not used to taking the other person's mood into account when explaining these common affairs. In the past, the clan members would just listen to what he said. How could he think so much. These words came out of my mouth at once, but the person who said them felt a little inappropriate.

Li Xiaohan didn't know what the clan leader was thinking, but judging from the current situation, basically the people didn't know much about the situation of King Ding raising troops, and they had great confidence in King Ding, and they had no idea about the situation of corvee service. Also satisfied.

As for other things, I guess I can't find out more from the clan leader.

There is no need for military service or civilian men. It seems that King Ding's 100,000-strong army should include the logistics, food transportation, equipment, and the like. It is completely self-sufficient, so there is no need to recruit people from the private sector.

It's just that if King Ding decides to cut down his army in the end, then the first group of logistics troops may be laid off, and they won't be the elite combat force. After the army has been reduced, if there is a war, food and armaments still have to be transported, and then the civilians may have to be recruited.

From Li Xiaohan's point of view, it is better not to disarmament. Now that the army has been dismantled, the work of transporting food and equipment to build city walls is also risky, and don't believe in the situation where three Ding draws one, five Ding draws two. When the war actually starts, the battle will be fierce, and even men will have to be dragged into the battlefield.

After Li Xiaohan got the information he wanted, he smiled and said, "Then I can rest assured. My family will prepare the matter of the generation of labor money. Let me tell you the clan leader in advance."

"Well, Cheng, I remember." Seeing that Li Xiaohan didn't seem particularly concerned, the patriarch also relaxed.

"Then I'll take my leave first. When my parents come back, I'll give you red eggs, patriarch, and invite you, patriarch, to come over and have a drink." Li Xiaohan said.

"Well, there's no rush for this."

Li Xiaohan said goodbye and went home. The patriarch's wife still held Li Xiaohan's hand and kept Li Xiaohan for dinner again and again. Li Xiaohan mentioned something about Li Xinhe, and the patriarch's wife was even more grateful. However, Li Xiaohan said that he had something to do when he came back and had to go to Fucheng tomorrow, so the patriarch's wife let go of Li Xiaohan's hand.

When I got home, half an hour passed before I knew it. Li Xiaohan was thinking about his thoughts while preparing the materials. Li Hehua was helping him. Originally, Li Hehua wanted to avoid suspicion, but Li Xiaohan said that it didn't matter, and Li Hehua thought about it. Uncle Xiandong was in Fucheng, and his master was alone. People are really too busy. At worst, they don't say anything they see or hear, and they just stay in their own hearts.

In the evening, after dinner, I have already mentioned the matter of troubling Mr. Ye and Li Hehua to stay overnight. Li Xiaohan felt a little embarrassed and said, "I'd like to trouble aunt Ye and Brother Jiachai."

"This is nothing. It's only a few steps away. If you don't let us come over, we won't worry." Ye said.

She earned this money at the Li family every day, and her daughter learned a skill. Li Hehua secretly told her that Li Hehua also got money. Now, Mr. Ye could not be more grateful to Li Xiaohan.

"Yes, sister Li Xiaohan, don't worry, I will sleep with one eye open tonight, and no one like that little thief will dare to come over." Li Jiacai said. He is now the only man in the family and has a heavy responsibility.

"Yeah. Then I'll leave it to Brother Jiancai." Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

As everyone was talking, Li Dazhuang's voice came from outside the door again, "Xiaohan, please close the door. If you shout something loudly, my family will pay attention."

"Yes, I understand. Brother Da Zhuang, please go back." Li Xiaohan shouted.

Li Dazhuang patrolled the wall again and found nothing unusual before going home.

As the night got deeper, Li Xiaohan lit an oil lamp and used the charcoal pen to record the information he had obtained in the past few days in pinyin. He then opened the plot of the original book that he had recorded before, compared the two sides, and slowly Consider.

A question mark, and then write the next Pinyin.

Fanjiao. Qinpi.

Chili pepper. Qinpi.

=== Chapter === 87

The next morning, Li Xiaohan got up on time to prepare ingredients and make wine. There was no trace of frowning and thinking last night, not even dark circles under his eyes.

Speaking of dark circles, Li Xiaohan had to say that life in ancient times was too healthy and regular. Their family basically had a habit of starting from sunrise to sunset every day. They relied on the sun for work and lighting, as they had to keep vigil during the New Year. In this case, the Li family lit a brazier for both heating and lighting.

He is young, lives a regular life, and eats nutritious food. The most obvious thing about Li Xiaohan is that his skin is as delicate as a hard-boiled egg. Although it is not as white as an egg, it has a healthy rosy luster. The eyes are bright, the eyes are clear in black and white, the skin under the eyes is delicate, and there are no dark circles or red bloodshot eyes.

Occasionally holding the water to look at himself in the mirror, Li Xiaohan is still very satisfied with his appearance. It is full of vitality and looks like it will last a long time.

After the materials were prepared and the first round of soaking was done, Li Xiaohan followed Li Dazhuang's oxcart to Fucheng in the afternoon, and came back two days later to stir the filter material.

Originally, after Mrs. Wang gave birth to her child, with Li Xiandong watching over her, it was okay for Li Xiaohan to stay in Pingshan Village for a few more days. However, Li Xiaohan had something on his mind, so he hurried to Fucheng.

Along the way out of the village, the rice fields have been harvested. Li Xiandong's family has few fields to grow food, and the most pepper fields are helped by Zhao and others. Li Xiandong basically completes the rice field work alone, and the three Li family members are mainly busy with business. The feeling of autumn harvest Not intense.

When we leave the village, there are only rice stalks left in the rice fields. Now people in the fields are shuttled between the cotton fields, and occasionally there are one or two acres of bean fields. The figures of adults shuttled through the cotton fields, their fingers dancing on the white cotton, and the children played and worked at the same time.

This year is another good year.

Li Xiaohan looked at the image of life in the field and didn't know what he was thinking. He suddenly asked: "Brother Da Zhuang, have you ever served in a corvee?"

"I am eighteen years old this year. I have served as a corvee twice since I was sixteen. One was to dredge ditches, and the other was to build city walls." Li Dazhuang said without looking back while driving an ox cart.

"How do you feel? Are you tired? Is it painful? Will you not be able to hold on?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"It's okay. Of course it's hard and tiring. I don't eat well, it's cold, and I have to work all day long, but it's not to the point where I can't bear it. The first time I went there, At that time, my father gave me some money and chose a good place for me to be with the villagers."

Li Dazhuang directed the oxen to turn a corner, and then continued, "Our corvee service is considered good. I heard from the old people that in the past few decades, it was tired and miserable. At that time, the work was heavy and there were few people. , and they didn't eat well, and the yamen in charge often whipped people. In the middle of winter, people were whipped until they bled and then had fever, and they didn't make it through the winter. There were also some people who were really tired and hungry, and fell to the ground after doing it. Can't get up."

"That is indeed tragic." Li Xiaohan responded, thinking in his mind: In the past few decades, King Ding had not yet been crowned king, and a little earlier, it was even the beginning of the Wei Dynasty. It is estimated that the officialdom was still in chaos. During this period, nothing is surprising.

"That's not true. The old people say that our generation has encountered good times and the world is peaceful, so that people can live like human beings." After Li Dazhuang said this, he smiled naively. He thought he was extremely lucky. Born at a good time.

"Yes." Li Xiaohan was not so optimistic. She glanced at Li Dazhuang in front of her. Although eighteen years old was considered an adult in ancient times and a man could start a family, in his previous life he was only a senior in high school. The students around. Looking from the back, the shoulders are still thin, like the skeleton of a young man.

Li Xiaohan said nothing more. Li Dazhuang was not a talkative person. Li Xiaohan couldn't bring himself to talk, so he concentrated on driving. The car was rolling and he soon arrived in Fucheng.

"Why are you back so soon? How are you at home? Are you tired?" Li Xiandong asked while taking down the things from the oxcart. When living in Fucheng, you need to buy everything, so Wang's hens and vegetables grown at home come in handy. Anyway, there was an ox cart, so Li Xiaohan brought it to Fucheng.

"It's not bad, it's good. Aunt Zhao is helping to look after it. Everything in the house is fine. I told my grandfather and the clan leader that my mother had given birth to a younger sister, and I told her to wait until you get back to put the wine-red eggs." Li Xiaohan helped. He took the things out of the car and said, "Dad, did Brother Xinhe come to see me?"

"Xinhe didn't look for you, but Gang Leader Qing did. He said that when you come back, let him know that he has been in Fucheng these days and has something to discuss with you." Li Xiandong said what Li Xiaohan expected. name.

Li Xiaohan paused for a moment, then continued to pick up a handful of cabbage and brought it to the kitchen, "Oh, I'll go find him later. I just need to go shopping to buy something."

After putting down his things and taking a rest, Li Xiaohan asked, "Dad, I saw you buying candles to light lanterns before the new year. Where did you buy them? How much did they cost?"

The Li family doesn't have many activities at night. When lighting is needed, Wang and Li Xiandong usually use oil lamps. Li Xiaohan also went to bed early in the past. Oil lamps and candles are no different to her who was used to all kinds of lights in her previous life. They are not bright enough, and if you get too close, your face will be covered with oily smoke.

Thinking about it now, the Li family doesn't seem to use candles much, that is, when they light lanterns during the New Year, Li Xiandong lights two short candles, and there are also times when they open an ancestral hall to worship their ancestors during the New Year. , the patriarch lit the candle.

"Oh, I went to the grocery store in the city to buy it, the one we usually go to on West Market Street. When I bought it, it cost ten cents a piece. Why do you ask for this? Do you want to use it? I'll give it to you. Do you want to buy two?" Li Xiandong said.

Li Xiaohan thought about it carefully. It seemed that the two candles were not long, just a little longer than his thumbs. At that time, he thought they were candles for lighting the lantern, so it was normal for them to be shorter. Now it seems , maybe it's because it's expensive, so I bought it in a shortened length. The color seems to be still yellow. Could it be that traditional beeswax candles are still being made at this time?

"Dad, no need, I'll go find Qinggang later and buy two from the grocery store." Li Xiaohan said.

"Sure." Li Xiandong said, although he was the one who bought these odds and ends in the past, but that was in Pingshan Village, and now in Fucheng, it is very convenient. It is also good to let Xiaohan go shopping.

After resting for a while, Li Dazhuang drove Li Xiaohan to Qingbang Shop in a bullock cart.

Ma Wu, the Qing Gang member, was still looking at the shop. When he saw Li Xiaohan coming, he quickly sent someone to notify the Qing Gang leader.

The leader of the Qing Gang came very quickly, and he must be nearby. After not seeing him for a while, the leader of the Qing Gang went to explore the market outside the city, and he didn't know what the result would be. But judging from the look on the face of the Qing Gang leader and the atmosphere among the other members of the Qing Gang, it should be okay.

Ma Wu and Li Dazhuang took the cows to the backyard to eat fodder, and then moved away with the others, leaving a space for the two of them to talk quietly. Gang leader Qing opened his mouth to bring good news and bad news.

The bad news is, "The price at Lao Qiu's Tavern has increased? By 20%?"

This thing was both expected and unexpected. It was expected that the increase in food prices would inevitably lead to an increase in the price of wine. What was unexpected was that the Lao Qiu family dared to increase the price by 20%.

"Well, the old Qiu family should have received certain information. Your pepper wine was made from his own wine. Now that the pepper wine is selling well, he wants to get a share of the pie." Gang Leader Qing drank. He took a sip of tea and said.

"Oh, that's normal. Then what do you want to do?" It's normal for Lao Qiu's family to increase the price, but the news is incomplete. The two-point increase is too much. It's just to take advantage of her or the Qinggang.

"Let's change the wine. It's okay to change your pepper wine to another wine." The leader of Qing Gang said nonchalantly. Tongfu Restaurant uses a different kind of original wine as they do, and the effect seems to be better.

"If the quality is similar, there is basically no problem." Li Xiaohan said.

It's just that the old Qiu family estimates it will be difficult. Originally, Qinggang's wine intake should be a big customer of Lao Qiu's Tavern. Nowadays, the Qinggang does not sell alcohol. The old Qiujia Tavern is not only losing a big customer, but also because of the strong dominance of the pepper wine in the original market, the local wine market is shrinking. Making wine, that's hard.

"How many pubs are there in our city? How is the business lately?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"There are about seven or eight. The business has been like this recently. It must be a little worse than before, but it should still be able to survive. After all, the output of your pepper wine has never been good." Qing Gang Leader said doubtfully.

Suddenly he was surprised and said, "Why are you asking this? Are you worried about them?"

It's amazing, such amazing compassion.

Li Xiaohan lowered his head and said nothing, neither admitted nor objected.

She has not yet caused a fatal blow to this industry, but if the wine steaming technology is promoted, it will actually have a very big impact on those who make a living by making wine.

The rise of one industry is often at the expense of the subversion and destruction of another industry. People at the top may still have room for negotiation, but people at the bottom have no ability to resist risks. Li Xiaohan didn't want to cause such a result because of himself.

Whether you call her compassionate or cowardly, she just doesn't want to bear the karma of too many people, whether it's too many people's expectations or too many people's hatred. Sometimes I feel that it is very difficult to be able to take care of myself and then take care of the people around me in life.

For a moment, they fell into silence, and neither of them spoke.

Finally, it was Li Xiaohan who spoke first, "How is your business outside the city?"

The leader of the Qing Gang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. When he talked about the business outside Fucheng, his tone changed, "It's very good. The farther northwest people go, the more they like this kind of strong liquor. Especially seeing that winter is coming, this Growing wine can make them feel warm. Many people have told me that they hope to increase production. I can eat as much as you can supply over there."

"Let's keep it like this for now. You know, after all, I only planted ten acres of peppers. It looks like a lot, but in fact it's not much." Li Xiaohan said as an excuse, "You don't have to do business when you go out, so there are no other difficulties. Is it? Under the rule of King Ding, will the roads be smooth?"

"It's okay. It's peaceful now. After paying the tolls everywhere, I can still make a little profit."

"Sure. Then our transaction will continue as usual. I'll give you the processing fee as mentioned in the past at the old price." Li Xiaohan said, suddenly feeling a little tired, "I'm leaving first."

"Yes. I'll see you off." The leader of the Green Gang stood up and saw Li Xiaohan on the oxcart. He watched the green figure go further and further away, like the hope of spring, going further and further away.

How can there be no difficulties when doing business outside? Grabbing meat on someone else's territory. How can you easily grab it without a fight?

Peace in the world is only peace on the surface. How could the bandits on the road be extinct? On this road, the weak-hearted will not survive.

This has never been seen before, magical, ridiculous, gentle, silly, merciful.

The Qing gang leader had a complicated expression on his face.

"Xiaohan, can't you reach an agreement on business with the leader of the Qing Gang?" Li Dazhuang asked.

"Not really, there's no problem." Li Xiaohan replied.

"Then why do you look unhappy?"

"Can you see? There are just some things that I can't figure out. For a moment, I feel like my head is full of thoughts and I don't know where to start."

"Then think about it slowly, you are so smart, you will definitely be able to figure it out." Li Dazhuang comforted him, Xiaohan is the most spiritual brain in their Pingshan Village. People in the village say that the virtues accumulated by their ancestors of the Li family have manifested themselves, " It doesn't matter if you really can't think of it. As long as you live, you will find a way one day."

"As long as you live, you will find a way one day. Who told you this?" Li Xiaohan asked. This is not something Li Dazhuang can say. After all, he is only eighteen.

"My father said it. When my father sold his land to save my mother, someone in the village advised him not to sell his land. I heard what my father said." Li Dazhuang said.

Their family has been having a hard time in these years. They sold most of their land, owed a large amount of foreign debt, and his father was lame. But now that he thinks about it, he has made it through. It's a pity that her mother was not rescued in the end, but she has no regrets when she thinks about it. His dad tried his best.

Li Xiaohan naturally knew about the past events of Li Dazhuang's family, but it was a pity that Aunt Dashu did not survive.

"Yes, living is the most important thing. Only living has hope. Da Zhuang, let's go to Qingshan Academy to find Brother Xinhe." Li Xiaohan said.

Brother Xinhe is too slow and can't catch up with the time.

Dede, the ox cart walked towards Qingshan Academy.

"Xinhe, your clan sister is here to see you again." In the library of Qingshan Academy, Li Xinhe was buried in a pile of newspapers from his old residence. Lin Heng ran over and pulled him out.

"Ah. Brother Zhiyuan, what do you want from me?" Li Xinhe raised his head in confusion and asked.

"I said, your clan sister is here to see you again. She is right outside the academy gate." Lin Heng said.

The two of them lived in the same dormitory. They were both from peasant families. In addition, they had dealt with each other in the Western Market before. Lin Heng envied the Li family's closeness. Li Xinhe admired Lin Heng's talent, and the two gradually fell in love with each other. With the friendship, they are now considered classmates and friends.

During this period, Li Xinhe was often absent-minded and lost weight rapidly. Li Xin and his clan sister came over again. They couldn't find anyone for employment in the academy, so they almost went out and refused. Lin Heng was afraid of delaying things, so he came to the library to find someone. .

"Did something happen at your home? Do you want help?" Logically speaking, Li Xin and his biological father are the heads of the Li clan, so Lin Heng can only help a lot. However, based on the friendship between classmates, he still asked. .

"Oh, there's nothing going on at home." Li Xinhe said. Only then did he react. He stood up hurriedly, randomly stuffed a volume of the residence newspaper back, "Brother Zhiyuan, help me read these books. I'll go out first." Let's go, I'll sort it out when I come back later."

"Okay, you go first. Don't wait any longer." Lin Heng responded, watching Li Xinhe run out.

Li Xinhe looked through a lot of things. According to the rules of the academy, they had to be classified and filed. He had to come back later, otherwise he would be fined. Lin Heng looked at it for a while and thought about it. He didn't know when Li Xinhe would come back, so he helped organize it first.

This is all the stuff of the academy, and there is no confidential information.

"Dongyue Di Bao in the 23rd year of the Wei Dynasty" "Dongyue Di Bao in the 23rd year of the Wei Dynasty" "Dongyue Di Bao in the 22nd year of the Wei Dynasty" "Dongyue Di Bao in the 22nd year of the Wei Dynasty" Newspaper》…

Why do you keep reading the old newspaper? What's in the old newspaper? It's nothing more than some government orders, and the situation in various places. Most of the time in Dingcheng, King Ding defeated the Western Tartars, and the court sent him a reward. What else is there when winter is approaching, King Ding trains his troops, and the emperor praises the tiger father for having no dog sons. Category…

Suddenly, Lin Heng stopped packing in his hands, his whole body froze, and his eyes gradually became unbelievable.

Then, he casually opened all the newspapers from the past twenty-three years. No, no, there is no news about the appointment of the king, only praises for the virtuous Taisun.

However, in the twenty-third year, Western Tartars clearly attacked. They were college students and were in Dingcheng, so they discussed this matter.

Lin Heng was originally a smart person, but the more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became.

problem occurs.

Outside the academy gate.

Li Xinhe looked around, and saw Li Dazhuang watching an ox cart in the distance. The front door of the academy must be kept neat and clean, so Li Dazhuang did not bring the ox cart over. "Xiaohan, what Mr. Zhang Er said is probably true. In previous years... There are many reports and praises about King Ding's achievements in the official residence newspaper, but since last year, there has been no news in the residence newspaper. Most of them are praises from the grandson."

Prince Ding's figure gradually disappeared from the court, and was replaced by a large number of praises for Taisun's talent in governing and Taisun's praise of the Emperor's filial piety.

Li Xinhe's voice was very bitter. He naturally hoped that the world would be peaceful and the court would be stable, but King Ding's army was fighting against the Western Tartars. Without the support of the court, how long could King Ding last?

Where will they go, the common people under the rule of King Ding?

Contrary to Li Xinhe's voice, Li Xiaohan's voice was very calm, "Yes. I understand, Brother Xinhe."

Nothing more than the last boot finally falling.

=== Chapter === 88

The golden afterglow of the evening sunset shines on the mottled and ancient city walls, on the corners of the eaves and tiles hidden in moss, and on the slightly uneven bluestone road...

Children were playing in twos and threes on the roadside, and people who had gone out to help out were holding today's harvest in their hands: half a piece of meat hanging from straw, large or small pieces of cloth, grain in sacks, and of course the best. It was a copper plate placed close to my chest. On the way, I met my own baby and carried it home with a smile. The stalls and shops that had been busy all day began to close and people left, and wisps of light rose up on the houses. Smoke...

"Miss Li, you're back." On the way, I met Zhu Zhongren's wife, who greeted Li Xiaohan on the oxcart with a big belly and a smile.

"Hey, Madam Zhu, what are you doing?"

"Go and ask my children to go home. They are so crazy that they don't even know they are home." Madam Zhu replied with a smile, her face was gentle, but the next moment she suddenly turned her face away, staring ahead as if she was a different person, gritting her teeth. , "Stop, Shitou! I told you to go home and do your homework after school. Have you forgotten that you were beaten for not finishing your homework last time?"

So Li Xiaohan watched helplessly as the gentle Madam Zhu dragged her son home with her pregnant belly. Li Dazhuang is worried. The schoolwork in the city is really heavy.

The crowds were dense, so the bullock carts moved slowly.

Li Xiaohan saw Snail Wu in front of him on the left, carrying a load of water and snails, and walked forward steadily. The full bucket of water must have been very heavy, and the pole was bent under the pressure, but there was a satisfied smile on Tian Luo Wu's face. A woman holding a child approached Tian Luo Wu and wiped the sweat from his forehead. .

What floated in the wind seemed to be the voices of two people talking. I couldn't hear the content vaguely, but they seemed to be saying:

"Why did you come back so late today? The city gate was almost closed."

"There are not many snails left. I looked a little further today and found a hidden section of the river. The harvest is good."

"That's great. But it's almost winter, and the snails aren't fat enough anymore. What should we do in the winter?"

"It's okay. In the winter, we will go to the village to collect cabbage and turnips, and then go to the tofu shop to order some tofu. Then we will sell the spicy hotpot."

"Is it possible?"

"Sure, we have saved enough money to buy a coal stove, and life will get better and better."

"Why."

The two of them talked very deeply, with only each other and their expectations for the future in their eyes. The golden sunset shone on the face of the woman holding the sleeping baby in her arms, creating a peaceful scene.

Li Xiaohan did not disturb the two people, nor did he say hello. He said quietly: "Brother Da Zhuang, I remember there is an alley here that you can turn into. You can take a shortcut to the grocery store in the West Market. You turn around and I'll buy something there."

"Sure." Li Dazhuang responded. The bullock cart turned a corner gently, got out of the crowd, entered the alley, and then stopped in front of a grocery store.

"Girl, what do you want to buy? We have pots, pans, pans, and all kinds of daily necessities." The shopkeeper of the grocery store was packing up and preparing to close the door and go home. When he saw a customer, he hurriedly said hello.

"I want to see the candles you have here." Li Xiaohan raised his eyes and looked around, but did not see any candles on the shelves.

The shopkeeper noticed Li Xiaohan's dressing style. In his previous life, Li Xiaohan was used to shopping in large supermarkets and using various shopping software, so he naturally didn't care about being in this grocery store.

After confirming that he was the target customer, the shopkeeper smiled and said: "Young lady has found the right place. I have all kinds of candles here. I wonder what kind of candles do you want?"

After that, he opened the cabinet door with the brass key and took out a wooden basin.

Oh, Li Xiaohan realized instantly that candles are expensive goods and should be locked up separately, "Take them all out and take a look."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "If the girl wants to light the hall, she can use grease candles. Suet candles, tallow candles, and fish fat candles are all acceptable. They are large, strong, and durable, but they have a slightly fishy smell. Some girls don't like it very much."

After saying that, the shopkeeper took out several thick candles and placed them on the basin one by one. They should be the so-called mutton-fat candles, tallow candles and fish-fat candles.

Li Xiaohan took a look and found that it was indeed a little thick. "Is there anything more delicate?"

"There are also more sophisticated ones. The tangerine oil candle is strong, bright and very durable, but has a slight smoke smell. The honey candle made of high-quality beeswax has neither fishy smell nor oily smoke, but is slightly more expensive. "

After that, the shopkeeper took out two more candles. Compared with the previous mutton-fat candles, tallow candles, and fish-fat candles, they indeed looked much more delicate and delicate.

"Is there anything cheaper?"

Li Xiaohan asked about everything from expensive to cheap to big and small, making people confused as to what she needed. It's not like I'm here to buy candles, but like I'm here to check out the details.

The shopkeeper muttered in his heart, without showing his face, he picked up two small and rough candles from the bottom and said: "Candles made by mixing fat and oil are high-quality and low-priced. They are most suitable for home use and don't hurt."

Li Xiaohan took a look and realized that this was the kind of candle Li Xiandong bought to light lanterns. It cost ten cents a piece. How could he not feel distressed at the price?

"How much do these candles cost?" Li Xiaohan glanced at them one by one.

"Mixed candles, ten cents each, mutton-fat candle, fish-fat candle, fifty cents, tallow candle, eighty cents, tallow oil candle, one hundred cents, honey candle, one hundred and fifty cents." The shopkeeper quoted, and it was really getting more and more expensive. It looks more and more like someone who has come to know the truth, "What did the girl buy this candle for?"

"Oh, I bought it for fun. If I buy more, can it be cheaper?"

"How much do you want to buy?"

"Give me one as well."

The shopkeeper immediately smiled. Buying one of each item would be worth it to me. "Girl, if you buy so many candles, I won't charge you for the mixed candles. The total is four hundred and thirty coins."

"Okay, wrap it all up for me." Li Xiaohan said, it's a bargain if it's ten cents cheaper.

The shopkeeper wrapped the candles and collected the money with a smile. Sure enough, it was a good thing that the magpies were chirping today. The business of 430 yuan was a big deal.

As for whether Li Xiaohan was sent by the opponent's family, the shopkeeper is not afraid. The price of his candles is affordable, and he has accumulated some regular customers from wealthy families, so he expects to win.

After buying candles, Li Xiaohan went to Gumen Lane. It was getting late, and Aunt He had just made dinner and was about to go home. Li Dazhuang cannot return to Pingshan Village today. The road is dangerous in the dark, but it is convenient to stay in the Li family wing for one night and return tomorrow morning.

After dinner, Li Xiaohan took out the candles he bought and lit them one by one.

Although for Li Xiaohan, who has seen all kinds of lights in his previous life, there is not much difference between oil lamps and candles, but candles are actually much better than oil lamps.

Even the lowest-priced grease-mixed candle, which costs ten cents a piece, is much brighter than that oil lamp when lit.

Not to mention the mutton-fat candles, fish-fat candles and tallow candles. After they were lit, the whole hall lit up dimly, but the smell of fat was very strong, making it slightly uncomfortable after smelling it for a long time.

Orange oil candles and honey candles are better. Although they have a bit of smoke, the smell is much lighter. They are indeed the best for daily use in your home. It's just a candle worth 100 yuan or 150 yuan. If you light it, you're burning money. No wonder Shi Chong and Wang Kai fought for wealth. Shi Chong showed his extravagance by burning candles as firewood.

Candles of various sizes were lit up and down, illuminating the hall of the Li family as brightly as ever before. Li Xiandong and Li Dazhuang had never seen so many candles before, and they were fascinated by the sight. This city is really nice. Even the candles are so diverse, but they are a bit too expensive.

While Li Xiaohan was observing the condition of the candle, he held a pair of scissors and cut the candle core from time to time.

Yes, no matter what kind of candle, the candle core must be cut after a period of time, otherwise the candle light will gradually dim and eventually go out.

"Why should we cut the candles from the west window together, but talk about the rainy night in Bashan."[1] "The night of cutting the candles in the west building is deep, and I feel half angry and half happy at this time."[2] It sounds romantic in reading, but in real life it is not It's a piece of chicken feathers.

After watching for a while, Li Xiaohan had a general understanding of the situation with the candles, so he blew out the candles and lit the oil lamp again, "Dad, I've finished using them. You put these candles away and put them in your mother's house." Use it in your room."

Li Xiaoshuang has to get up once or twice in the middle of the night to nurse, so Wang has a candle to make it easier.

"Okay. I'll put it away first. When you want to use it again, ask me for it." Li Xiandong said cheerfully. Now he has understood the truth. There is no need to be polite with his daughter. She said whatever she thought and just did it.

Early the next morning, Li Xiaohan had breakfast and came to Tongfu Restaurant.

When the shopkeeper saw Li Xiaohan, he quickly invited him in. Now he was the God of Wealth, a person who was even treated politely by his own family.

"Miss Li, you're here, what's the matter?" The shopkeeper enthusiastically welcomed Li Xiaohan into a side room, and asked the waiter to quickly serve fragrant tea and snacks.

"I have something to do with Mr. Zhang, has he told me?"

"Yes, yes, the second young master said that Miss Li is here to inform him immediately. Miss Li, please sit down and have a cup of tea first, and I will send someone to notify the second master right away." The shopkeeper responded repeatedly.

"Okay, thank you, shopkeeper."

"No trouble, no trouble. Then Miss Li, sit down first, call us if necessary." The shopkeeper smiled, secretly guessing that the second young master was involved, and Miss Li finally agreed to increase the supply of their Tongfu Restaurant's pepper wine. . Then wouldn't he be able to compete for the honor of being the shopkeeper at the end of the year with this?

The shopkeeper stepped back, Li Xiaohan picked up the tea cup and waited quietly for Zhang Fu's arrival. This wing is more elegant, more secluded, and more comfortable than the one she came to with the Qing Gang leader last time. I think the wing rooms at Tongfu Restaurant are also divided into different levels.

Zhang Fu came very quickly. Before Li Xiaohan finished drinking a cup of tea, Zhang Fu had already pushed the door open and said, "Miss Li, I've been waiting for a long time."

Zhang Fu sat down across from the desk. Li Xiaohan poured him a cup of tea. Zhang Fu picked it up and drank it in one gulp. He came in a hurry, but he was actually thirsty.

"I wonder how Miss Li thought about my proposal that day?"

"Don't worry about that matter. I have something to ask Mr. Zhang now. I wonder how much Mr. Zhang knows about the largest ash forest near Dingcheng?" Li Xiaohan did not answer Zhang Fu's question directly. Instead, he changed the subject.

"Is this ash tree important?" Zhang Fu asked doubtfully.

"It's very important. I need to determine something. Success or failure is related to everything that follows." Li Xiaohan looked serious.

"Well, I don't know if Miss Li is free. Let's go visit the largest ash forest together. I think no matter how much I say, it will never be as accurate as Miss Li seeing it with her own eyes. Don't worry, Miss Li, now Starting from Fucheng, one day is enough for a round trip."

Although Ash Tree said that it was related to gun-making and was relatively sensitive, with Zhang Fu's ability, there was no problem at all in taking people to take a look - even that forest was already under the control of Zhang Fu.

"Okay, I'll trouble Mr. Zhang." Li Xiaohan stood up and said. Before she saw the ash tree, she was actually not sure what the situation would be and whether it would be possible.

Both of them are fast-moving people. Zhang Fu came on horseback, but it was not difficult to find a carriage. In order to save some time and send Li Xiaohan back before the city gate closed, the coachman hurried forward.

This ancient dirt road and wooden wheels only jolted Li Xiaohan until he almost vomited. She never knew that she was motion sick.

When I got back, I immediately learned to ride a horse. Li Xiaohan swore in his heart.

When they arrived at the ash forest, Li Xiaohan's face turned slightly pale.

"Miss Li, are you okay?" Zhang Fu's voice was filled with guilt. Under normal circumstances, he was a very considerate and elegant young man.

"It's okay, let's go." Li Xiaohan waved his hand, it's time now, let's work first.

This forest is managed by villagers. Hearing that people from the city were coming, the village head hurriedly came to greet him. Just as he was about to introduce the relevant situation, Li Xiaohan gently pointed to the white frost on the branches and asked with a frown. He asked, "What is this white layer on this tree?"

Zhuang Tou's heart suddenly trembled. What kind of identity did this girl have? With Mr. Zhang by her side, she must be an important person. She must not be underestimated. He hurriedly explained, "This is a kind of insect that grows with the ash tree. Every autumn, a layer of hoarfrost forms on the trees. It just looks ugly, but actually does no harm to the trees. Because there are so many of these little bugs, there is no way to kill them all with human hands. Absolutely, so I don't care. When spring comes next year, the white frost will gradually disappear. It won't be a problem."

The steward said several times that it was no problem, but Li Xiaohan sighed in his heart, yes, after autumn and winter, it was gradually carried and damaged by wind and snow, and the spring day disappeared. In this era, no one can understand the function of this insect.

Li Xiaohan confirmed his suspicion, then turned to Zhang Fu and said, "Master Zhang, I need to find some people to collect the hoarfrost spitted out by these bugs. The sooner the better, the more the better. Also, prepare some for me. A small pot."

There was doubt in Zhang Fu's eyebrows, but he still ordered, "Do as Miss Li said."

After Zhang Fu ordered it, the head of the village quickly went to find someone, and then brought Li Xiaohan and others to the village. "Miss Li, this is the house where we usually live. Time is urgent. I wonder if it is suitable?"

"It's okay, that's all."

Bai Shuang was also collected quickly. This was just a test and it didn't take much.

Li Xiaohan lit a fire and put the collected hoarfrost into the pot to boil, while slowly explaining to Zhang Fu, "Master Zhang, you know, this insect that grows on the ash tree actually has another name, called White wax insect. When the heat reaches the end, the male insect gradually spins silk, which is the layer of white frost, which is called wax flower. After the wax flower is boiled, filtered and solidified, it is also a kind of wax. The color is snow-white, hence the name white wax."

The ash tree turned out to be the research topic of Li Xiaohan's roommate in his previous life.

After Li Xiaohan took a year off from school due to illness, he became a school girl. Later, the dormitory was adjusted, but everyone still had a good relationship.

After graduation, Li Xiaohan went to the Chinese herbal medicine planting base known as the barren mountains and wild ridges. This roommate was admitted to a graduate school and the elective subject was the modern breeding of white waxworms and the cultivation of improved varieties.

Not to mention how hard it is for graduate students, anyway, the bacteria in the culture room are spoiled bacteria, and the bugs in the research room are delicate and expensive bugs. My roommate is wailing every now and then:

"Ah, my white waxworm is so sleepy. Why on earth is it? Isn't it comfortable in a bright and clean laboratory?"

"Ah, my white wax insects, don't they? These days, don't even the insects believe in love?"

"Damn, these two bugs actually... are actually gay, wuwuwuwu, how can I save seeds for next year? I can't graduate yet!"

Li Xiaohan listened to too many roommates' wailing, and then this roommate who was wailing and struggling to do the project got straight away.

In the past, Li Xiaohan only heard her keep talking. After all, both of them were inconvenient, so they had never seen the real thing.

It wasn't until I heard about Qinpi in Renhe Hall that I felt it was familiar, and then accidentally heard Dr. Zhang say that Qinpi is called ash tree, and ash tree is also called green palm tree and white wattle tree, then I connected it.

When Li Xiaohan recalled the past, she couldn't help but have a look of nostalgia on her face, but no matter how much she missed it, it didn't stop her from working hard.

The white wax flowers gradually melted in her hands, and the wax residue gradually sank to the bottom. Li Xiaohan lifted the pot, poured the floating wax liquid into a small bowl, and then took out a thin cotton thread from his arms. , put into a bowl.

Then, Li Xiaohan put the bowl into cold water. The temperature gradually dropped, the liquid wax gradually solidified, and the color began to turn white.

When it was almost ready to solidify, Li Xiaohan lit the cotton thread with a fire stick.

The candlelight flickered but did not go out for a long time, and Zhang Fu's eyes became brighter and brighter.

=== Chapter === 89

"Does Miss Li know how much lighting and city defense equipment are included in the military supplies allocated to the city by the court every year?"

"There are 142,000 candles in total, and the weight of pine is 41,620 pounds." Zhang Fu looked up at Li Xiaohan and said with a half-wry smile and half-joking, "This year it has been reduced by half, definitely. The palace office will soon switch to using oil lamps for lighting."

"Uh." Li Xiaohan couldn't react. He imagined this scene and realized, oh, it turns out that at this time, government offices still had to use candles. Are the hundreds of thousands of candles enough to burn? What to do if it's not hot enough?

Zhang Fu looked at Li Xiaohan's frowning and troubled look. He was making white wax with ease while talking and laughing. His image of being too smart to be like the people here was shattered. "It doesn't matter. We later purchased a lot of candles. At least it's clear." That's enough."

Li Xiaohan was a little confused. Raising food prices while keeping candle prices flat? Obviously food is more urgently needed than candles, right? Li Xiaohan thought so and asked.

Zhang Fu explained seriously, "In the early days, food prices can rise, and the people who are most affected are the common people. People with a bit of industry have their own food reserves. They have various information channels and can infer King Ding's intentions from various clues. Stock up on food. But once they realized that King Ding was taking the initiative, they felt at ease because they decided the situation and were under control."

"However, candles, a necessary but somewhat expensive commodity, cannot float easily, because candles are only used by wealthy families with property. Once these families feel the smell of instability, they will Maybe the people's hearts are floating, they quickly transfer their property, and start to flee the city. The civilians are uneasy and can only wait uneasily, which will not cause too much turmoil; but these people are uneasy, and if they have the ability, they will act quickly. Then it will cause greater uneasiness and conflict among the civilians. To maintain stability at this time, double the effort will be required."

Oh, Li Xiaohan understands that for the same necessity, the people affected by the price of food and the price of candles are different. Therefore, in the early stage, the target groups who need to be appeased are also different, and the need to maintain political stability is different.

However, Li Xiaohan still couldn't understand, "Is a candle so important?" After all, she didn't study literature and history in her previous life, but grew medicinal materials in the barren mountains, and she didn't have many conditions to understand it in this life. The development of this dynasty.

"Xijing Miscellanies" records: "The King of Minyue presented Gaodi with five dendrobiums of stone honey and two hundred honey candles." At that time, honey candles were a tribute from the Kingdom of Shu; "Liu Dian of the Tang Dynasty" records that among the tributes from Shannan Road, There are beeswax and candles; in the early days of the previous dynasty, there was a saying of giving candles back to the courtyard, that is, after the emperor finished talking with his ministers at night, he would send his servants to hold candles to send the ministers back. This is It is a very high standard of etiquette, and the ministers who can enjoy it are the confidant ministers."

"I think there are candles among the people, and they don't seem to be rare." From this point of view, history has taken a turn in the past, and the development of this dynasty is even more different.

"Candle-making technology is still improving. Besides, folk candles are mostly made of grease. When burned for a long time, the fumes are strong and the smell is pungent. Candles made by the government mostly use beeswax, and there are other candles, which have less fumes and smell. Fragrance, price is different."

"However, no matter how advanced the candle-making technology is, the best wax is beeswax, which is obtained by bees making honey. The natural yield is not high. Therefore, the price of really good candles has remained high."

In the simple kitchen, the candle was still burning faintly. Zhang Fu sat on a simple wooden stool, becoming more and more relaxed as he talked. Maybe he also lacked someone to talk to.

Or perhaps, this is a silent communication and exchange between smart people. After all, they now hold each other's secrets, one is full of unsolved mysteries, and the other is walking on a tightrope on a cliff.

We may not necessarily tell each other everything, but what we can tell is the truth. So don't ask what happened in the past, only what will happen in the future.

"I see that this candle of yours is white in color and has less oil smoke. Although it is not as good as the palace's secret candle, it is the best wax and can be bought at a good price."

"Are you going to sell it at a high price?" Li Xiaohan asked with a frown.

"Well, sell them to Jiangnan. The people there are rich and like these things, so they can be exchanged for food." Zhang Fu confessed, looking matter-of-fact.

"No need to maintain stability?"

"That's how people's hearts are. If you don't have it, you need to pretend to maintain stability. When you really have it, you just need to show it off, and you don't have to worry about it. No matter how high the price rises, it will remain stable. Miss Li. You are so smart, you can naturally understand this truth."

"Can I exchange for food over there in Jiangnan?"

"Yes. The weather has been good these past few years. There are granaries south of the Yangtze River, and every household is full of grain." Zhang Fu had a look of envy on his face. After all, Dingcheng is in the northwest and the grain production is not abundant.

Although he said that food prices can rise, that is only when stability is maintained in the early stages. When there is real turmoil, food is fatal. Without food, the army cannot be stable.

Since he was exchanging food, Li Xiaohan pursed his lips, pondered for a while, and said, "Actually, what I am using now is the boiling method to make wax. There is another method called steam wax making. The quality of the white wax produced is better."

Hearing what Li Xiaohan said, Zhang Fu's eyes brightened even more, but Li Xiaohan ruthlessly interrupted his fantasy, "The conditions are not enough now, I have to go home to prepare, and it will take some time. . But these are small details. It should be noted that it is October and winter is about to come. When the wind and snow come, the wax flowers hanging on the trees will no longer be able to survive. We have to pick the wax flowers before the winter snow comes."

Li Xiaohan paused and continued, "It is best to pick the wax flowers early in the morning and process them on the same day, otherwise they will easily stink, change color, and affect the quality. If it is not possible to process them on the same day, they should be spread out in a thin layer and dried to maintain the quality as much as possible. "

"After I go out, I will organize the manpower immediately. However, Miss Li has to tell me what I need to prepare for the steam wax making method. During this time, I need to trouble Miss Li." Zhang Fu looked serious, that was indeed necessary. It's time to compete with God.

Li Xiaohan looked at Zhang Fu and was silent for a moment, wondering why: "At home, I still have the pepper wine that needs to be brewed, and the pepper base that needs to be fried."

For a moment, the two fell into silence, looking at each other, wishing that Li Xiaohan had some skills.

"Perhaps Miss Li has someone she can trust to help?" Zhang Fu tried to say.

"Sure, I'll go back and think about it." She is also consciously training people, such as Li Hehua, Li Dazhuang, etc., but now that she thinks about it, she should speed up the pace.

While the two were talking, the village leader outside picked another batch of wax flowers.

"Put it up first and let's take it back. Now it's too late."

After boiling a batch, it will be confirmed that it is flammable white wax. The rest will definitely be tested today. Especially the steam wax-making method. She had only heard it from her roommate before, but she had not done a real experiment yet, and she didn't know if it could be done.

"Well," Zhang Fu glanced at Tianshi, "I'll send you back first." Then he called his servants and ordered the carriage to be set up to return to the city. He also mentioned that he wanted to take away the sack of wax flowers.

Li Xiaohan got on the carriage and saw with sharp eyes a middle-aged man who had followed Zhang Fu and stayed.

Zhang Fu looked at Li Xiaohan's eyes and explained, "I asked him to stay, deploy manpower, and make relevant preparations in advance. I suspect it will get cold early this year. If there is no other way, then... Use the cooking method you just used to make this year's batch of wax first."

"Well, it's good to be prepared in advance. Give me a pen and I'll think about what preparations to make." Li Xiaohan sat in the carriage, thought for a while and said. There are many things in the carriage in the TV series. The Zhang family's carriage is quite big, so it should have paper and pen.

"In the carriage, there is a pen and paper in the secret room on the left side of the carriage." Zhang Fu said, pointing to the carriage.

"Where? Where?" Li Xiaohan asked while touching the wall of the carriage.

She really doesn't understand these ancient people. It's just a drawer. Wouldn't it just be a pull ring? Why carve flowers and plants? It's so classic and exquisite, she doesn't know how to start. It looks like it wherever you touch it, but it turns out to be nothing. She looked down upon herself and looked down upon the luxury of these ancients.

"Miss Li, I'm sorry." Seeing that Li Xiaohan couldn't touch it for a long time, Zhang Fu apologized, then opened the carriage curtain, walked in, found one of the rings, gently pulled it, turned it, and then pulled it. Opened the drawer.

Unfortunately, Li Xiaohan always thought it was a child wearing a bracelet.

Seeing Zhang Fu again and again, he folded up the drawer and turned it into a small table. He put the inkstone on it and quickly took out the ink stick from another drawer to grind the ink. After the ink was polished, he spread it out. rice paper, and then handed Li Xiaohan a writing brush.

Li Xiaohan paused, and she remembered that after integrating the memories of two generations, she could basically understand these ancient characters, but she couldn't use a brush or write. It is normal for people who are accustomed to using computers to forget to write when picking up a pen. Modern writing is very confusing, let alone ancient times.

"Mr. Zhang, please sit down. I'll tell you, and you can write it."

"Then... Miss Li, wait a minute." Zhang Fu put down his pen, rolled up the door curtain, and hung it on the hook beside the door. Then the curtains on both sides were treated in the same way. Now, the entire carriage is visible from three sides. He was in such a bad state that he finally told the coachman, "Go more slowly."

After doing this, he sat back at the table, holding a writing brush in hand, and said to Li Xiaohan, "Miss Li, please speak."

"Well, let me think about it. The principle of the steam wax making method is actually to transport the steam heated by the fire into the wax melting bucket. The wax flower will melt when encountering high temperature, and the wax liquid will be filtered through a fine sieve and flow out. After cooling, it will be the finest white wax."

"So I need an iron pot as big as possible, with a wax bucket set up on it. There should be an opening around the bottom of the wax bucket to facilitate the flow of wax liquid. There should also be two layers of filters on the wax bucket to filter the residue of evaporated wax. Finally, The top is where the wax flowers are placed..."

As Li Xiaohan spoke, a diagram of wax evaporation equipment slowly took shape under Zhang Fu's pen, with beautiful text descriptions next to it.

Zhang Fu's handwriting resembles free and elegant cursive, wanton and smooth, and is nothing like him. He looks like he should be good at pavilion style, impeccable, and of course very official.

But watching ancient people write is really a kind of enjoyment. If the person writing is an authentic ancient prince, it will be a double visual enjoyment. Fortunately, he didn't take out the chicken claw-like calligraphy. Li Xiaohan didn't dare to imagine this scene.

"Actually, there is a question that I have thought about before. The wick of this candle needs to be cut from time to time. I wonder if I can try to divide the wick into two or three strands, like this, and then the candle wick When it burns, it spreads by itself, so you don't have to cut the candle wick all the time."

In fact, the candle wicks in later generations were made of three cotton threads wound together and spread out while burning, so there was no need to cut the candle wicks.

"Also, if you want to expand to the south of the Yangtze River, can you do some tricks? For example, add some spices and floral dew to the candle to make a candle that emits fragrance when it burns?"

"Or, shape the candle into various shapes? You just saw that the wax liquid is actually very soft as it begins to solidify slowly."

=== Chapter === 90

"Miss Li said so much, aren't you afraid that Zhang will leave you alone after knowing it?" In the spacious carriage, Li Xiaohan finished speaking. After Zhang Fu finished writing the last sentence, he suddenly stopped writing and looked at Li Xiaohan and asked .

According to Zhang Fu's understanding, Li Xiaohan is not such an unsuspecting person, and she is definitely not trying to find a backer just because she knows his identity. Otherwise, when she was in the Li Mansion, she would not be so diligent in trying to establish Li Xiandong. In the position of owner, Fanjiao Wine would not only go to Qinggang later, but Tongfu Restaurant would still come to him to get the same treatment.

From the beginning until she found Li Xiaohan a few days ago, her attitude of wanting to clear up the relationship was very clear. But today suddenly changed, as if he was giving everything he had without any reservations.

Zhang Fu knew that he was not that charming, and the power of the General's Mansion was not that impressive. From beginning to end, Li Xiaohan never mentioned a word of reward.

Li Xiaohan looked at Zhang Fu, smiled softly, then turned to point out the window, "Look."

We were about to enter the city at this time, and the city gates were filled with people returning to the city. Zhang Fu's carriage was just a more luxurious-looking carriage. The civilians didn't dare to get close to the surroundings, and there was no difference between them. Blocked outside the city gate.

Li Xiaohan looked outside the carriage and said with a faint smile, "The night before I decided to come to you was a night like this. My ox cart was blocked on Fucheng Street. At that time, I just confirmed that the news you said is true."

"At that time, I was thinking, if the Tartars invade, what will we ordinary people do? Ordinary people rushing home after a busy day, carefree children, couples full of plans for the future, Some of them I know, and some I don't. Every one of them is so ordinary, completely defenseless, and they will probably be easily destroyed under the iron heel."

"Actually, there is no difference between me and them. Even if I guess it a little earlier than them, I have no way to escape. My home is here, where should I escape to?"

Li Xiaohan turned his head again and smiled at Zhang Fu, "So I'm not helping you, I'm just helping myself, I'm just saving myself. You have to believe that I'm actually a very scared person. People who have died. So even an ordinary person like me is trying to find a glimmer of hope."

"To save yourself, naturally do your best, regardless of the price."

Li Xiaohan looked into Zhang Fu's eyes and said this, making sure that he believed what he was telling the truth. After making sure that he understood, he turned to look at the crowd of people outside the window, as if this ordinary scenery was actually the human world. Beautiful view, leaving Zhang Fu alone.

Unexpectedly, this answer turned out to be this. Zhang Fu thought about it in thousands of ways, but the result turned out to be so simple, yet so shocking.

It is to save others, but also to save oneself. After seeing things clearly, you should try your best even though you know your power is weak.

With various emotions rolling in his eyes, Zhang Fu wanted to say something, but couldn't.

After a moment, Li Xiaohan frowned again and said, "Actually, I also want to ask. Mr. Zhang should know that I am just an ordinary farm girl. Why do I know that this white wax insect can make wax? You seem to be like this , accepted it easily. Don't you have any doubts?"

"Uh..." Zhang Fu said with difficulty.

"Master Zhang, if you don't want to say it, you don't have to say it..." Li Xiaohan said understandingly. The result she wanted has been obtained, and there is no need to pursue the unknown.

"Actually, it's not that there's no doubt. I just don't think it's important to the result."

Zhang Fu paused for a moment and then said, "My mother has always been very talented in business. My maternal grandfather's family was a merchant. She was appreciated by my father for her talent and married into the Zhang family. My father is busy with official duties. I left all the family affairs to my mother. My mother was like a fish in water, and her business grew bigger and bigger. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. At that time, the party struggle in the previous government was fierce, and my father was guarding the city but could not wait for support. I My mother used her business as a business, used money to pave the way, and secretly established relationships. In order to get support from the previous government, she even preferred to buy food and grass herself."

"She was already eight months pregnant at that time. Due to overwork, she was drugged by an adulterer and had an abortion. It was a female fetus. Then, my father had the opposite. So my family has always been pregnant. Will."

"After my mother gave birth, her health began to deteriorate. The most important thing was that the drug she took was prone to hallucinations. She often dreamed that the child would blame her. If she wasn't so strong, if she was like the world, As people say, if you take care of your husband and raise your children at home, the child will not be lost. Even the family I rented out has such a rumor. My maternal grandfather's family is a businessman and is dependent on my father, so I always hope My mother just needs to take good care of my father."

"Later, about eight years later, my mother became pregnant with me. She felt that the child from before was back. After giving birth to me, she gradually came out, took over the general's palace, and became bigger and bigger. . In fact, most of what I started to take over were my mother's properties."

"My body wasn't very suitable for practicing martial arts since I was a child, so I grew up with my mother."

"Do you still remember the eighty acres of land? I actually ordered someone to transfer it to you. With the dowry of eighty acres of land, a peasant girl can live a pretty good life. My mother has been in poor health in recent years. , it's okay when she's sober, but sometimes she will fall into self-doubt, whether it would have been better if she had taken care of her husband and raised her children. So I want to see if you will stop from now on and start dating and raising your children. Lu, after all, my mother said at that time that you are quite similar to her when she was young."

"That gift is not all honey, there are also traps. However, you came out." Zhang Fu said with emotion, "Actually, you will all come out. In this world, men and women are just The difference in body is not a difference in brain. My mother's body does not allow her to walk very far. If you can walk, just walk a little further and let her see, that's fine. "

"So, actually I don't believe you, I just know that you should not despise a woman."

Li Xiaohan didn't expect to hear such a past event. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. In the end, he could only say, "I'm sorry."

I'm sorry to have opened some scars.

"Oh, you don't have to be sorry. I can tell you that my mother is relieved, and so am I. When she was happy, she also said that no one who drugged her at that time was left, and they all gave her double Went back."

"However," Zhang Fu's face became very cautious, "That medicine is the secret medicine of the previous dynasty, called Fairyland. In the early days, it was said that only a little bit could make people feel as happy as hearing fairy sounds and entering fairyland. It's beyond the limit. After that, various emotions in the heart will be greatly amplified, and then addiction will occur, and finally you will die in agony. If you encounter it one day, don't get involved."

This sounds like drugs. Isn't the Fairyland of Immortals just auditory and visual hallucinations? !

Li Xiaohan frowned and said, "Is this medicine still being circulated?"

"I don't know. I heard that this medicine came from the Western Regions. No one thought there was a problem at first, but later I found out. It is banned in this dynasty, but I don't know if it has been circulated privately." Zhang Fu reminded, after all, Li Xiaohan's pepper is also introduced from the Western Regions.

"Yes, I understand." Li Xiaohan nodded seriously, but then asked, "What about Mrs. Zhang now?"

"My mother had a sudden seizure, which was extremely harmful to her body, but she was not addicted. It's just that her body can only slowly recover now."

"Oh, just take it easy," Li Xiaohan said comfortingly.

After saying this, the two of them had nothing to say, but the atmosphere was no longer as strange as before.

Although the entrance to the city gate is blocked, you will slowly move forward. "It is true that as Miss Li said, there is indeed something nostalgic about the fireworks in this world." Zhang Fu said that he had not looked at it seriously before. Pass.

After saying that, the two of them just looked at each other and smiled. The carriage slowly drove into East Street and Gumen Lane, and finally stopped in front of Courtyard No. 10. "Miss Li, I will come to pick you up early tomorrow morning. Let's try Try what you call the steam wax method."

"Sure." Li Xiaohan jumped off the carriage and replied, "See you tomorrow."

After saying that, he waved his hand, opened the door to the courtyard and went home gracefully. Zhang Fu watched Li Xiaohan's green figure walking quickly into the courtyard, then lowered the curtains, waved his hand, and the carriage left smoothly.

When Li Xiaohan returned home, Aunt He poked her head out of the kitchen and said, "Girl, I'm back. The master has gone to Tongfu Restaurant to find you. He said that if you come back, he'll wait for him at home." Okay, don't go out again."

"Okay. Thank you, Aunt He." Li Xiaohan said. When she went out, she didn't have time to come back and tell Li Xiandong, but she asked Tongfu Restaurant to send someone back to tell her. Now that Li Xiandong went out to look for her again, he was probably worried. It's just that if he transfers it out now, he will probably miss it again and can only wait for his father to come back.

"Girl, you are back and the food is ready. Do you have anything else? Why don't you go home without me?" Aunt He asked. Aunt He works during the day and would have gone home at this time in the past. However, due to special circumstances today, Aunt He stayed. Now that Li Xiaohan is back, Aunt He will ask.

"Hey, Aunt He, please go home. You can come back tomorrow." Li Xiaohan said.

"Hey." Aunt He said happily. This new master's family is easy to get along with, the money is easy to pay, and there is not much work. He is Aunt He's favorite employer. If possible, I really want to keep doing it.

After seeing off Aunt He, Li Xiaohan walked towards Wang's house.

"Is Xiaohan back?" Wang asked from inside the house, and she heard Li Xiaohan's footsteps.

"Mom, it's me, I'm back." Li Xiaohan opened the door, and Mrs. Wang was lying on the bed. Li Xiaoshuang was fast asleep beside her. Most of the wrinkled and yellow look she had when she was just born had faded away. Now, It begins to bloom towards a plump and snow-white appearance.

"It's good to come back. Your father just went out not long ago. Did Aunt He tell you?" Wang asked. This daughter has always been more capable than them and reassuring, but she didn't come back when the city gate was about to close. Come on, parents, don't worry.

"Yes. Aunt He told me. Why did dad go out anyway? Didn't I ask someone to come back and tell me?"

"He's just worried. It's a good idea to look for him. Your father is a grown man, so don't worry about him." Wang said, "Why were you out for so long? Is everything going well?"

"I went out of the city and it was a bit late to come back. Things are going well. I have to go out tomorrow. I guess I will be busy from now on." Li Xiaohan said.

"That's it, can you keep busy with Fanjiao? Do you want to go back to Pingshan Village for Fanjiao Wine?" Wang asked with a frown.

"It's okay, I'm busy." It's just that I'm a little tired and go back and forth that day, or I stay up late and work a little later at night. It's not like Li Xiaohan never worked overtime in his previous life.

"Let's do this, let your father go back. Didn't you say that your father is ready, just let him go back."

"Mom, no, dad still has to stay with you. You are still in confinement."

"Why not? If you are worried, just ask Aunt He to stay with me at night and get extra night's wages. I see that Aunt He has given birth to several babies, and she has served several mothers, which is better than Your father is careful, but your father is rough-handed, and there is no aunt who can help him." When Li Xiandong was not around, Mrs. Wang complained with confidence.

The corner of Li Xiaohan's mouth twitched, this really means that men are not as good as good confinement nanny!

"It's settled. I'll tell Aunt He tomorrow." Mrs. Wang rarely became tough. These days, she would talk to Aunt He when she was bored. Mrs. Wang knew everything about Aunt He's family. As long as she gave her money, Wang is sure.

So, when Li Xiandong came back, he was informed that he had been sent back to Pingshan Village to drink wine. Of course, he was going back only a few days, not staying in Pingshan Village all the time.

"Oh, it's done." Li Xiandong said.

After dinner, Li Xiaohan lit the oil lamp. The piece of cotton thread she took today was ready-made cotton thread at home. After thinking about it, Li Xiaohan took apart the cotton thread, divided it into three pieces, and prepared to rub the three pieces together.

Early the next morning, just as the Li family had breakfast, Zhang Fu arrived with a carriage. Last night, Li Xiaohan had told Li Xiandong and Wang that he would go out again today. After breakfast, Li Xiaohan went out with Zhang Fu again.

Today, Zhang Fu is wearing a moon-white scholar's robe embroidered with ink cursive script. He looks a little more free and elegant. When he sees Li Xiaohan coming out, he smiles and nods. The alienation of the noble young master in the past is gone. many.

Li Xiaohan, wearing a light green pleated skirt under a goose-yellow jacket, looked like new leaves on a spring branch. He stepped lightly onto the carriage, and the carriage ran smoothly outside.

Not long after, the carriage stopped in an alley not far from East Main Street. It was said to be an alley, but it turned out that Gumen Alley was larger, wider, and neater.

"No. 7, Qingming Lane?" Li Xiaohan read the directions to the door.

"Well. This is the place I decorated yesterday. It's not far from Miss Li's house. Didn't Miss Li say that she still needs to experiment with the steam wax making method, and she also has many ideas for candle wicks and scents? I'll experiment here in the future. That's it, it's more convenient." Zhang Fu explained.

"Oh," Li Xiaohan said. He told Zhang Fu yesterday evening and had it ready this morning. It seems that Zhang Fu's actions are quite efficient.

"Miss Li, please."

Li Xiaohan followed Zhang Fu in. The yard looked only a little bigger than Li Xiaohan's house. Maybe because of confidentiality, there weren't many people there. There were many craftsmen in the yard knocking on something. . When Li Xiaohan took a look, it should be the original shape of the steam wax barrel she drew for Zhang Fu yesterday.

Seeing Zhang Fu and Li Xiaohan come in, guard Qingsong came out to greet them and said, "Master, Miss Li, you are ready."

Li Xiaohan and Zhang Fu followed Qingsong into the kitchen. In the kitchen, they saw a large pot ready, with a wooden barrel on top of the pot and an opening on the side of the barrel. Li Xiaohan walked over and opened the lid. The barrel was divided into three layers. The upper layer had the largest space. At the bottom was a sieve made of thin bamboo branches. At the bottom was a wooden board to prevent the wax from flowing out. come out.

"It looks like it should work, so let's try it first." Li Xiaohan nodded. This device was more sophisticated and detailed than she had imagined, so it should work. I vaguely remembered that my roommate said that the melting point of white wax is about 85 degrees, so it should be possible.

After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, someone picked up a dustpan of wax flowers and gently placed them on the steamer, closed the lid, and lit the fire.

The fire was glowing, and the kitchen began to heat up. No one spoke, everyone was staring at the steamer.

The boiling water in the pot gradually began to boil, and the water vapor filled the air. "Open the wax outlet and take a look."

As the wax outlet gate opens, the melted wax liquid, like magma, slowly flows out.

Li Xiaohan and Zhang Fu stared at the wax liquid together, observing carefully.

"You see, it is indeed purer and has fewer impurities."

It's done.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

=== Chapter === 91

Seeing that the steam method could produce liquid wax, both Li Xiaohan and Zhang Fu breathed a sigh of relief. Although there is a boiling method that can guarantee the bottom line, it can be done better, and neither of them wants to settle for a worse method.

Moving his eyes away from the slowly flowing wax liquid, Li Xiaohan turned around and said: "It is possible that the three-strand cotton thread mentioned earlier can be fully burned..."

Unexpectedly, Zhang Fu said at the same time: "The three-strand cotton thread you mentioned before may be able to spread out automatically after burning..."

The two of them looked at each other, with a little smile in their eyes.

"I tried twisting some cotton thread..."

"I asked Lily and the others to knit some cotton thread..."

The smile in his eyes became a little more obvious.

Li Xiaohan took out some cotton thread from his sleeve pocket, while Zhang Fu took a money bag from Qingzhu's hand and took out a bunch of cotton thread.

The cotton thread Zhang Fu took out was very delicate. After all, it was made from the material of the general's palace and was made by the maids. No matter the size, thickness or color, it looked expensive and delicate, but it didn't look like the heart of a candle.

In comparison, the cotton thread Li Xiaohan took out was a little rough. Moreover, Li Xiaohan has memories of his past life. After all, it is called by his roommates as a place where medicinal materials are grown in the wilderness. All kinds of unexpected supplies must be fully prepared. There are candles distributed by the company in Li Xiaohan's dormitory. He made it from memory. The thickness and size feel a little closer.

"It may be better to soak the cotton thread in wax liquid first so that the wax liquid can fully soak into the cotton thread, then dry it and put it into the candle." Li Xiaohan explained.

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Zhang Fu had no objection.

Li Xiaohan soaked all the cotton threads they brought with them into the wax liquid, leaving one end hanging outside.

After looking at it for a moment, Li Xiaohan said, "If you have paper and pen, we will make an experiment record."

"How to record it?" Zhang Fu asked in confusion, and motioned to Qingzhu beside him to get paper and pen.

"Most of today's craftsmen improve their tools based on experience and feeling, and generally rely on word of mouth to pass on and improve skills." Li Xiaohan frowned and said slowly, "I'm not talking about this method. No, it's just too subjective and too dependent on individuals, making it difficult to quickly and effectively draw conclusions and pass them on. Therefore, we need to record methods and data to help us make objective decisions. The best decision."

Zhang Fu was a little confused when he heard it. What's wrong with the word-of-mouth transmission? The master-disciple inheritance has been like this since ancient times. Of course, it's good to record it.

Qingzhu quickly brought the paper and pen over. There was naturally no desk for writing in the kitchen. Li Xiaohan pointed out, "What is not writing? Just move a table. I can also look at the dining table." , the conditions are like this , just make do with it."

So, Qingzhu moved the dining table treacherously. This... this was very inconsistent with the young master in his impression.

The person who wrote the pen naturally became Zhang Fu, and Li Xiaohan pointed at the side and said

"Come on, first write a topic for the experiment report on cotton thread burning out."

"Okay, write a simple experimental procedure: Mix cotton threads made from different materials and techniques, fully soak them in liquid wax, take them out, dry them and put them into a candle, and observe how well they burn."

"Let's make another experiment table. We have seven cotton threads, so they are divided into seven columns. The following are divided into several rows, and the basic information such as the characteristics of the cotton threads, size, number of strands, and material are written in turn. Write the experimental results and leave the following blank line to see if there is anything else that needs to be written before adding it."

As Li Xiaohan talked more and more, Zhang Fu felt that the information he wrote became clearer and clearer, and his thoughts became brighter.

If there is such an experimental report, even if he did not participate in the experimental process of this candle heart, he can clearly understand the entire process and results from the report.

The subjective influence of people is eliminated to the greatest extent, all external objective influences are recorded, and finally a result that can be trusted is obtained.

This is not just an experimental report, but the embodiment of a way of thinking.

Zhang Fu took a deep breath and raised his eyes to look at Li Xiaohan. Li Xiaohan was still recalling how he wrote the experimental report in his previous life, thinking about what information needed to be recorded and summarized, and what could be done under the current conditions. .

"Put the cotton threads from left to right, corresponding to numbers 1 to 7. We will cut off a little bit of each thread and use it as a specimen to paste it on the paper."

Li Xiaohan said, looking left and right. The kitchen was very complete. There were scissors. He could cut out a small piece of cotton thread that was exposed outside the wax liquid. "Well, we need to glue it together." The cotton thread is pasted on paper as a specimen and the number is recorded so that the record is very clear."

Qingzhu hurriedly looked for paste.

Zhang Fu began to think about whether other places could also record this experiment. After all, the principles are the same. "Does the steam wax production method and the boiling method also need to be compared and recorded in this way?"

"Yes. Let me think about it, what records need to be made? Well, the amount of wax produced by the two methods needs to be recorded and compared."

Zhang Fu has already spread out another piece of white paper, thinking about how to write according to the previous format, "Well, yes, the quality of the wax, including color, the amount of impurities contained, the burning situation, and even Using the same method, the quality of the wax at the beginning, the quality after a period of time, and the remaining residue at the end are all worth recording."

"Yes." Li Xiaohan lowered his head and looked at the white paper in Zhang Fu's hand, and ran his fingers across it, "We can divide the wax output into the first wax, the second wax, and the second wax according to time. Squeeze out the last residue and I think you can get out some residual wax again."

Zhang Fu wrote one by one according to the places drawn by Li Xiaohan's fingers. While writing, he said, "The drawing I drew yesterday should be matched with it. And now the wax barrel has just started to be made. There must be improvements." We should adjust it bit by bit, the height of the barrel, the density of the sieve, and the size of the fire. These different factors have an impact on the speed of wax flow. Finally, we comprehensively summarized the best ratio, and then conducted two Comparison between different methods of making wax."

"Well, yes, the small classification experiments are optimized and then compared with the large categories."

…

The two of them talked more and more, and only Qingzhu, who had come back from looking for paste, was standing at the door. For a moment, he didn't know whether he should advance or retreat, or whether he should make a sound. Do you still want this paste? Want more, right?

The busy time passed quickly. Wax flowers were continuously brought in from outside the city. The carpenters in the yard were constantly testing various shapes of wax barrels. Zhang Fu and Li Xiaohan steamed out barrels one by one. Wax liquid, analyzes the quality of wax produced at different times, and prepares different candle wicks.

"It seems that the height and width of the No. 7 wax barrel, as well as the size and thickness of the sieve inside, combined with the speed of wax flow and the amount of impurities, are the most suitable." Li Xiaohan pointed to the test data and said.

Even though it was late summer or early fall, it was still hot and inconvenient to be in the kitchen all day long. Fortunately, the narrow-sleeved top she wore today allowed her to roll the cuffs up slightly on her wrists, making it easier to move.

"Yes. Based on the No. 2 candle cotton thread data, the wax can be produced without cutting the wick." Zhang Fu wrote down the combination of No. 7 wax bucket and No. 2 candle wick.

Because he had been writing intermittently all day long, Zhang Fu's fingers inevitably got some ink stains. The black ink spots were more conspicuous on the slender jade-like fingers, but neither of them paid much attention to them.

"That's it for today. I'll take you back first so you won't be late." After writing the last word, Zhang Fu raised his head and said.

The fact that Li Xiandong found Tongfu Restaurant last night has already been reported to Zhang Fu by his subordinates. There is no need to be as anxious as yesterday. It would be better to send Li Xiaohan back earlier.

"Okay." Li Xiaohan lowered his head and put down his sleeves, "Tomorrow we will try the scented candle method."

"become."

The two walked out of the kitchen together.

After returning to Gumen Alley smoothly, Zhang Fu went in specially to visit Li Xiandong, drank hot tea and said hello before leaving as a sign of respect.

Li Xiandong has practiced it now. At least when Zhang Fu called him uncle, Li Xiandong timidly agreed and could say a few polite words along the way.

Unfortunately, when I was having dinner at my home, I went back to my original state, "Are you working on something new? Mr. Zhang even called me uncle, which is really scary."

Li Xiaohan took a piece of tofu with chopsticks and said funnyly, "I'm testing something. Dad, is it so scary?"

"Yes." Li Xiandong nodded seriously, "Mr. Zhang seems to be a different kind of person than us. He suddenly called me uncle, which was even scarier than calling me Mr. Li."

"They are all polite words. They are different from the uncles who are related to us in the village. You don't need to take it too seriously." Li Xiaohan reassured.

"The young men in this city are just too polite, unlike us in the village." Li Xiandong said with a sigh, finally relaxing a little.

"Dad, are you going back to Pingshan Village tomorrow?"

"Yes. We'll leave tomorrow morning. I'll come back after I finish processing your batch of wine. I estimate it will take two days."

"Dad, do you still remember the Panax notoginseng trees you found last year when you were harvesting Eucommia ulmoides? At this time, the fruits are almost ripe. You can find a chance to take a look. When they are ripe, you can The seeds are collected and planted in the vegetable patch in our backyard." Li Xiaohan said.

The batch of Panax notoginseng seedlings in the backyard vegetable field had been transplanted to the mountainous land at home before Wang gave birth, just because they were afraid that they would not be available after Wang gave birth. Now it seems that they were transplanted.

However, there is nothing we can do about the few Panax notoginseng trees left in the wild. The seeds are not mature, so there is no way to deal with them in advance.

"Well, I know." Li Xiandong said. He also knew the method of sowing Panax notoginseng seeds. "I went to see your mother before she came to Fucheng to give birth. I guess it's about the same." It's a matter of God."

Hearing Li Xiandong say this, Li Xiaohan was relieved. Li Xiandong was an old farmer. He said that it was about this time.

"Also, Dad, when you come back, go to my room and bring me the jar of alcohol. I'll be useful."

Li Xiaohan had previously distilled a small jar of alcohol, and later distilled another jar as a backup. When he came to Fucheng, he brought a jar and left another jar in his hometown in Pingshan. Now Wang's production of the jar in Fucheng has used half of it. He was afraid that it would not be enough, so Li Xiaohan asked Li Xiandong to bring it with him.

I remember that during high school biology experiments, various essential oils were dissolved in alcohol.

"Sure, I remember." Li Xiandong said, "Your mother has already agreed with Aunt He that tomorrow Aunt He will work at our house day and night, and will only go back in the evening when she has a rest. Home. In the afternoon, I will ask Da Zhuang to come over and accompany you. I will let Da Zhuang live in the wing room. There is no man in the house and I am afraid that thieves will come to the door."

"Yeah. OK." Li Xiaohan said. What Li Xiandong said is the reality of this era

The two fathers and daughters discussed the household affairs while eating. To avoid disturbing Li Xiaoshuang, the two fathers and daughters ate in the kitchen.

After dinner, I went to see Mrs. Wang and Li Xiaoshuang. Now the baby has eaten and slept, and has gradually become whiter and tenderer.

After watching Wang and the doll, Li Xiaohan returned to the room, lit a candle, recorded today's events, made sure nothing was missed, and then arranged things for tomorrow before falling asleep.

At the same time, in Zhang's study room, Zhang Fu was still burying his head in writing.

Scattered on the desk are today's test data, filled with pieces of paper, occasionally with some very small words, marking the special situation at that time, and some ideas that were not realized in time. The final The data must be collected, compared, and sorted into the final version...

If Li Xiaohan saw it, he would sigh that Zhang Fu is really a good candidate for the laboratory. Look at this consciousness, this level of detail.

After processing the data, Zhang Fu picked up another piece of white paper and started summarizing and thinking. This time, he wrote very slowly, occasionally making corrections, and the look on his face was not very satisfied...

The night is getting darker, and the study room is lit with a newly made white wax candle. The candle body is pure white, the candle light is bright, and there is almost no oil smoke or choking smell. The candle has been mostly burned, but the owner of the study room is obsessed with work and has not cut off the candle. Pass the heart of the candle.

The candle is getting shorter and shorter, and the candlelight finally becomes dim, as if to remind the owner who is still writing at the desk that the life of this candle has come to an end.

Zhang Fu came back from his thoughts and stared at the flickering candlelight in trance. His frowning eyebrows gradually relaxed, and his eyes gradually became relaxed.

"Come here, get ready to wash up and take a rest."

"Yes, Master." Qingzhu outside the door responded.

=== Chapter === 92

The next morning, I woke up to beautiful weather. The autumn breeze was slightly cool, the sky was blue, with occasional white clouds passing by, and the sunlight was warm and bright but not harsh.

Zhang Fu went to pick up Li Xiaohan after breakfast, and Qingzhu went to Qingming Alley in advance to make preparations.

Arriving in front of the small courtyard in Qingming Lane, Qingzhu had not yet opened the door. With her years of practice, Qingzhu could vaguely hear the voices of the servants in the courtyard.

Those who live in the upside-down house are the carpenters who make wax barrels in the yard these days, the wax craftsmen who are responsible for making wax, and the servants who do firework. Because the white wax has to be kept secret for the time being, these related craftsmen and servants cannot leave these days, so they are arranged to live in the reverse room of this house.

Qingzhu stopped and listened attentively, wanting to hear what these servants were saying in order to avoid leaking the young master's information.

I heard a man whispering faintly inside, "Did you see it yesterday? The candles made by Mr. Master and Miss Li. They are really made of things spit out by unknown insects. I have been making them for decades. The candles are gone, I didn't expect there to be such bugs."

Another person followed in a low voice and said, "Beeswax is also spit out by bees, so there's nothing surprising about it. I just can't believe that wax comes out so easily. It is said that bees are born with them. In the past, we How difficult it is to raise bees. You grow all kinds of fragrant flowers just for them, and you have to risk being stung by bees to collect the wax. I heard that these white wax insects don't bite people, how easy it is."

"I have to say, this wax is really good. Just steam it, and the wax that comes out is so beautiful. It's really white and delicate. In the past, when we made wax, we didn't have to go back and forth. It takes several times to get that little bit of good wax. Alas, from now on, the skills of our wax makers will be eliminated."

"Speaking of this craftsmanship, have you seen it? The second young master and Miss Li have been tossing it over and over again, and the wax is getting faster and better. It is also divided into first wax and second wax. And residual wax, how long did we have to try before we could try it out? I learned the craft of wax making from my father when I was a child. I have learned it for half my life, and I feel that I understand most of it. Looking at it now, I just feel that I am stupid. The second young master and Miss Li , as if it was born to make candles."

"What nonsense are you talking about? How can noble people like the Second Young Master and Miss Li be born to make candles? They are born smart. These noble people are like this. They know everything and learn quickly. You Look at the second young master, they make better candles than us. The candle wick doesn't need to be cut off, it just burns out by itself."

"Speaking of this, I really didn't expect that this candle core does not need to be cut. How could something passed down by our ancestors go wrong?"

Yes, why doesn't the candle heart need to be cut?

Qingzhu was standing in front of the courtyard door, slightly dazed. The candle in the young master's room was burning from beginning to end last night. He was watching outside the door, but the young master did not get up to cut the candle wick once. Just like that, he easily broke something passed down by his ancestors.

Qingzhu had heard Miss Li tell her how to knit the candle-core cotton thread. Lily and other girls in the mansion had already led a group of slaves in the knitting room to start knitting it. Although Lily and the others didn't know what they did, when Qingzhu asked, Lily said this: It's not difficult. Once you understand it, you can make it up quickly.

Some people's brains are so smart that they can solve such difficult problems from such simple things. Miss Li's brain seems to be different from theirs.

Whenever Li Xiaohan knew that Qingzhu thought this way, he would wave his hands and say no. He was really overly appreciative. It was the light of the wisdom of his predecessors, and he was just borrowing it for use.

It's a pity that Li Xiaohan didn't know, and the servants in the house thought the same way, "Ancestors are also human beings, and there are always people who are smarter than others. I just don't know how much these new candles cost. They must be very expensive."

Is it expensive? How expensive is it?

It depends on the production this year. Qingzhu continued to be distracted, thinking of the other two Qings who were sent to grab wax flowers everywhere. They didn't know how many wax flowers they could grab from God, and how many candles they could make in the end.

But the more the better. Qingzhu prayed in his heart. As Zhang Fu's trusted bodyguard, Qingzhu naturally knew what the young master had been busy with recently. He hoped that the candle could be sold at a good price to help Dingcheng survive this crisis.

At this time, I heard the servant in the mansion say, "Young master and Miss Li will come again today. I wonder what they will do today? I feel like we can't guess it no matter how much we do."

"Of course we can't guess it. Do you know that Miss Li is the Miss Li who sells pepper base in Fucheng? Even Miss Li knows Fanbang's stuff, so we definitely can't guess it."

"Is it true? I didn't buy it. My mother bought it. Is it really this Miss Li?"

"It's no mistake. I love this spicy stir-fried escargot. I've bought it several times. I take it seriously."

"No wonder." Everyone suddenly realized

Qingzhu outside the door saw that the topic was getting more and more focused on Miss Li, and quickly made footsteps to stop it. Sure enough, I heard the sound of Qingzhu coming in and opening the door, and everyone's originally low discussion stopped immediately.

Qingzhu opened the door, no matter what he was thinking in his heart, his face looked very stern, "It is forbidden to discuss anything about Young Master and Miss Li in the house, and the matter of the candle must not be leaked. Anyone who does this will be severely punished."

In fact, private discussions are unavoidable, especially since this is such a novel thing worthy of discussion. The sound of words has been blocked since ancient times.

The craftsmen and servants who were scolded lowered their heads, did not dare to say another word, and quickly left to make other preparations.

About half an hour later, Li Xiaohan followed Zhang Fu to Qingming Alley in a carriage.

Looking at the exquisite bottles and jars in front of him, Zhang Fu said that this was the fragrance he bought. Li Xiaohan only felt that these things were very expensive at first glance, and sighed deeply, "Maybe I made a mistake. Our scented candles may not necessarily sell for a higher price than these scented dews."

The emergence of mature steaming toilet equipment, coupled with the difference in Li Xiaohan's exposure environment, resulted in Li Xiaohan not knowing the price of steamed toilet water before, but in front of him, these were fine white, pink or light yellow, but each one was written Holding my expensive porcelain bottle, I told her that the price would not be low.

Also, there was no chemical synthesis at this time. How could a fragrance synthesized by distillation of pure natural petals be so expensive?

"It doesn't matter, we just need to prove that floral dew can be melted into the candle, and then it can emit fragrance when lit." Zhang Fu's voice was full of certainty, "The rest, those who have money Women from wealthy families who have free time can melt wax and make incense themselves."

"Yes." Li Xiaohan nodded, she understood.

In the previous life, the price of buying finished products was obviously lower, but there were always too many people who liked to make their own handmade scented candles and handmade soaps.

It seems that this kind of handicraft is applicable to ancient and modern times. After thinking about this, Li Xiaohan became more relaxed and said, "Come on, let's take a look at how many kinds of fragrance there are here, such as jasmine, rose, jasmine, osmanthus..."

Most of them are made from common fragrant flowers. Li Xiaohan believes that according to Zhang Fu's personality, most of the fragrant dews on the market have been collected. However, "Why are they all scented with flowers? Are there no other scents?" "

"The flowers are rich in fragrance and pleasant in smell. Making scented dew is the most convenient and gratifying. Are there any other scented dews?" Zhang Fu asked. He rarely uses scented dew, but he learned a little bit about it when he ordered people to collect it yesterday.

"Well, let me think about it." Li Xiaohan frowned and held his chin in thought. Maybe at this time, there are really few other fragrances.

Thanks to nine years of compulsory education, Li Xiaohan learned in the Biology Elective of the People's Education Edition that there are three main methods for extracting aromatic essential oils: jasmine, which is highly volatile, should be extracted by distillation; and citrus Lemons, which easily change flavor when heated, should be extracted by pressing; the third extraction method requires the use of organic chemical solvents, which will not happen at this time.

"I remember that at this time, the citrus and grapefruit are almost ripe. I sent someone to the market to buy some and I will try it. Yes, I also went to the medicine hall to buy some lime." Li Xiaohan said after thinking. , soaking in lime water and rinsing can help destroy the cell structure and increase the oil yield.

Speaking of the medicine hall, "Ask the medicine hall if there is a medicinal material called patchouli. If so, see if you can get some young leaves of patchouli."

Patchouli is a traditional Chinese medicinal material with a long history. In traditional Chinese medicine, it has the effect of treating summer-dampness syndrome and dampness in the middle. In modern perfumes, patchouli essential oil has a strong cypress smell and is very popular. , the most important thing is that patchouli is a good fixative and lasting agent.

After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, Qingzhu on the side immediately ordered people to do it.

Making wax from scented dew is very simple. It is nothing more than mixing the scented dew or essential oil into the wax liquid before it takes shape. After solidification, you can light the candle and it will bring out a slight fragrance.

However, this matter, which I originally thought was very simple, ended up taking a long time to accomplish. The main reason was that the scent of the aromatherapy was relatively single and not long-lasting enough.

Fortunately, patchouli essential oil finally solved this problem. Mixing multiple essential oils and adding patchouli greatly improved the concentration and durability of the aroma.

"Smell this one, I like this fragrance. The freshness of citrus is the top note, followed by the faint scent of pine and cypress." Li Xiaohan lit a candle and said, "I think the audience for this fragrance should be very obvious. Not only little girls, but also the elderly and children like it."

"Yes. The aroma of citrus is very good when burned, and it lasts a long time. It should be able to sell for a good price." Zhang Fu nodded and analyzed carefully.

"Okay, that's no problem. Have you recorded the formula?" Li Xiaohan asked one more question.

These days, Zhang Fu's level of writing experimental reports has improved by leaps and bounds. When Li Xiaohan took a look, except for the beautiful calligraphy in his hand, which looked like ancient times, the content was completely at the level of an experimenter who had been in the laboratory for a long time. The data Precise and neatly formatted, it's easy to see at a glance.

Therefore, smart people can learn anything they want from clues. Li Xiaohan has been asked and can't tell anything anymore. Of course, she was also shocked by Zhang Fu's learning results.

"It's recorded." Zhang Fu organized the data and then placed the test candles one by one.

When Li Xiaohan saw him like this, a look of hesitation suddenly appeared on his face, and his lips pursed slightly, showing a rare unpleasantness.

Zhang Fu seemed to feel something, stopped his hand, raised his head, looked at Li Xiaohan and said, "If you have anything to ask, you can ask."

"How is the collection of wax flowers outside? How is the wax production going?" Li Xiaohan thought for a while and asked this question.

During this period of time, she was mainly doing experiments, but she was not blind. Of the four green-character guards around Zhang Fu, only Qingzhu and Qingbai were by her side. The other two only came back in a hurry occasionally. Report on work and then leave in a hurry. In addition to the guards, there were also the Zhang Mansion housekeeper whom I had seen before and some other unknown people, coming and going in a hurry. Especially after their experiments achieve certain results, someone will always come to visit.

"The wax flowers near Dingcheng are being collected. More than half of them have been collected. It is expected to be finished before the first winter snow. A total of about 2,300 kilograms of wax has been made and stored, and the fragrant dew is still being prepared. , after the fragrant dew is made, we will sell it together." Obviously, Zhang Fu is very familiar with these data.

"I roughly understand that you want to take the high-price route this year. I agree with this. Scarce things are more valuable." Li Xiaohan agreed, "But what will you do next year?"

Zhang Fu turned his head, with a slightly strange look on his face, as if he was questioning and expecting, "What's going to happen next year?"

Li Xiaohan sighed, and finally said it, "Actually, what I want to tell you is next year. You see, the terrain near Dingcheng is rugged and mountainous, which is not very suitable for growing food. And I don't know about the area near Dingcheng. Are there any other more prominent industries, such as iron ore and coal mining?"

"No. Dingcheng doesn't have these."

"That is to say, Dingcheng does not have a supporting industry. Then Dingcheng is very passive and always needs the support of the court, because Dingcheng produces nothing, cannot support itself, and has nothing to compete with other place in exchange."

Li Xiaohan's voice was as tempting as the devil, "So, have you actually thought about publishing the breeding and wax-making methods of white waxworms next year, so that wax-making will become a pillar industry in Dingcheng."

"Dingcheng is mountainous, and there are many ash trees that are more than three years old. It is most suitable for cultivating ash worms. In this regard, Dingcheng has naturally taken the lead and announced the cultivation of ash worms and the general method of making wax. After that, Dingcheng's pewter production can be greatly increased, and you can still keep the secret recipe of scented candles. In this way, mid-to-high-end candles can be put into the battle, and Dingcheng can have its own pillar industry. "

Those cities in the previous life had to think a lot about each slogan. Building a tourist city, building a coastal industrial city, building an inland coal supply base, etc. were not just slogans, but each city was building its own pillar industries and expanding The road to urban development.

Zhang Fu looked at Li Xiaohan, with a complicated light in his eyes, and slowly said, "I understand what you mean, and I have considered this possibility. However, Prince Ding is short of money and food, and in the future, the court's support will only be There will be fewer and fewer, so the opinion of the staff is to hold the secret recipe and sell it at a high price to make money."

"Actually, have you ever thought that the imperial court may ask for this secret recipe? After all, the emperor is Prince Ding's father. If Dingcheng is asked to present the secret recipe, do you think Prince Ding should offer it or not? After all, This candle lighting can be regarded as basic people's livelihood."

The confidentiality of scented candles is even stricter. There are only two people in the room, Zhang Fu and Li Xiaohan, so Li Xiaohan's words are even bolder.

"If you want to dedicate the white wax production method to the court, you will definitely be more passive. It is better to make it public as soon as possible, and then hold the secret recipe of scented candles. This secret recipe is unknown to others and is just regarded as ordinary floral water and wax liquid. If it's mixed, the court shouldn't have anything to do with it."

"Moreover, it is precisely because of the lack of money and food that it should be made public even more."

Zhang Fu sat upright and listened.

"No merchant can support the operation of a huge royal fiefdom and support the needs of an army. If you want to rely on the pewter business, it's not that I'm not optimistic about it. I think it's difficult to do it. The army is a violent machine, then But they are burning money and food."

Later generations have not said that cities can be supported by exports alone, unless they are specialized in exporting key energy sources, such as coal mines, iron ores, etc. Even if they are candles, people will not die without lighting.

"However, you can give it a try and replace agricultural taxes with commercial taxes. The city of Ding is rich in white wax, so many businessmen must come all the way here. In order to save costs, will they come empty-handed? No, they will. Dingcheng brings rice, cloth and all other things needed for Dingcheng. In this way, the needs for the operation of Dingcheng will be naturally solved. Then, the arrival of a large number of merchants will make the entire Dingcheng prosperous and commerce The prosperity will bring more taxes, which can fundamentally solve the problem of lack of money and food in Dingcheng."

Those in later generations are not just trying to build characteristic cities. If they don't have characteristics, they will rely on tourist cities. It's true, only when there are more and more people in a city can the city have vitality and continue to develop.

"A city, just like a person, cannot survive for a long time solely relying on the input of external forces. Only if this city can continuously produce and live on its own can it survive for a long time. "Li Xiaohan finally concluded.

Zhang Fu looked deeply at Li Xiaohan.

It turns out that Miss Li is not only smart in various skills and business, but Miss Li also has such amazing insights in the strategies of governing the country.

Li Xiaohan: No, I just saw too much in later generations.

"Zhang Fu was deeply shocked by Miss Li's suggestion and felt that it was a great benefit. However, this matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by me alone. I need to obtain relevant suggestions and consent, and then "I'll tell you again." Zhang Fu said cautiously.

"Okay, I'm just stating my idea. Can it be realized? How to realize it? It's up to you to judge." Li Xiaohan replied readily.

Don't underestimate the wisdom of ancient people. Even the buying and selling of cattle involves court management. The governance level of ancient people is no worse than that of modern people. It's just that the development of the times and the advancement of science and technology have given modern people an advantage that is hundreds of years ahead. Standing on the shoulders of giants, you can sometimes see further.

However, for example, Li Xiaohan now also has the ability to give advice to the confidant of the feudal lord, Zhang Fu is the confidant, and he can still be treated with caution. Li Xiaohan is already very satisfied. As for whether it can be done and how far it can sit, Li Xiaohan doesn't care. This is not a problem that she can control.

"The work is almost done. I don't have anything to do next, so I'll go back first." Li Xiaohan stood up and spoke with a relaxed tone. This matter has finally come to an end, and I can relax for a while.

"I'll see you off." Zhang Fu stood up and said.

"No need." Li Xiaohan waved his hand.

"I have sent you home safely in the past, but now that the matter has been completed, does Miss Li think that Zhang is the kind of person who would burn bridges by crossing rivers?"

"Then you send it away." It's just a small thing. If Zhang Fu doesn't send it away, a coachman will naturally send Li Xiaohan back. Now that Zhang Fu insists on giving it away, let him do it.

The two boarded the carriage and quickly returned to Gumen Lane. Zhang Fu insisted on saying goodbye to Li Xiandong before leaving.

"What happened to Mr. Zhang today? Is there something urgent?" Li Xiandong asked.

During this period, Zhang Fu picked up people in the morning and evening. After sending them back in the evening, he would drink a cup of hot tea and go through all the etiquette before leaving. Li Xiandong's tea was ready today, but Zhang Fu just said hello and left in a hurry.

"Well, yes, he has something to be busy with." Li Xiaohan confirmed.

Coming back early, Li Xiaohan went to tease Li Xiaoshuang again. Li Xiaoshuang is now about to lose the yellowness and thinness that he was just born, and is gradually developing into white and fat.

"Xiaoshuang, Xiaoshuang, look at sister, look at sister." Li Xiaohan grabbed a cloth tiger and said with a smile.

"It's strange that she can understand it now." Wang said angrily.

"Who said that? We Xiaoshuang are smart. You see, we can understand." Li Xiaohan held the cloth tiger and moved it around. Li Xiaohan seemed to really be able to understand, with clear black and white eyes. Also following around.

When Mrs. Wang saw it, she was also secretly surprised. She no longer held Li Xiaoshuang and asked, "Are you done with that matter?"

"It's almost done, at least I should be able to rest for a few days." Li Xiaohan said firmly.

Then he was slapped in the face very quickly. In the afternoon of the next day, Zhang Fu came again, bringing with him a fresh and hot draft of "Pewter Watch". Li Xiaohan memorized the "Commentary" and knew that these were probably documents written by subordinates to superiors, especially to vassals, emperors and the like.

Li Xiaohan knew nothing about this, but Zhang Fu thought that she was someone who participated along the way and should understand, so he came over with the draft.

After reading Zhang Fu's "White Wax Watch", Li Xiaohan only felt that white wax is the first line of life for Dingcheng. If white wax is not promoted, the road to Dingcheng will only become narrower and narrower. On the contrary, only by promoting white wax can Dingcheng be revitalized.

Li Xiaohan was convinced, what other opinions could he put forward. After Zhang Fu got the approval, he immediately went back with his draft. It is said that he copied it carefully and prepared it for Wang Xianyan.

After Zhang Fu left, Li Xiaohan fell into deep thought again.

People who clearly said they wanted to give themselves a few days to relax and take a rest frowned and started thinking, how to promote white wax? How to make this white wax more popular.

=== Chapter === 93

The reply Zhang Fu got came very quickly. After all, they were all the elites of ancient times. How could they not understand the important strategic role of Bai Wa in promoting the people of Dingcheng, so the plan was approved.

Li Xiaohan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the news that Zhang Fu had returned. Even if she made the most appropriate suggestion, she was not sure whether it would be adopted.

Now that things are developing towards the result that Li Xiaohan wanted, Li Xiaohan is extremely happy in his heart. As long as the environment is looser and there are more wealthy people, the people will not be the objects of temporary exploitation, but can be exploited in the long run. The more resources she develops, the safer she will be in them.

Seeing the joy on Li Xiaohan's face, Zhang Fu said: "There is one thing I need to tell you. You have made great contributions to the white wax matter, and I have already reported it to King Ding. But now King Ding is in a delicate situation and his identity It's a little embarrassing, but this year's white wax will be sold to Jiangnan at a high price, so I can't give you a formal reward for the time being. However, in the spring and March of next year, the Dingwangfu Yamen will issue a document asking you to teach the cultivation of white wax insects. I once said It should be your reputation, status and rights that will not be missing from you."

Nowadays, it is a tacit understanding between Zhang Fu and Li Xiaohan that King Ding will cause trouble in the future. There is no need to say it in words, they already understand it.

Li Xiaohan thought it was something, but it turned out to be this.

This is very good, it can make yourself known to the future victors and the supreme power in the world. Moreover, the cultivation of white waxworms in the coming spring and March and the education of the people cannot be hidden from anyone. Zhang Fu even refused to know the specific operation procedures, just to give Li Xiaohan a chance, and no one could kick Li Xiaohan away.

This kind of treatment, combined with the current environment and Li Xiaohan's interests, is the best way to deal with it.

But why does Zhang Fu look so embarrassed and hesitant?

"Is there anything else?" Li Xiaohan asked with a frown.

"There is one thing I should probably ask for your opinion on, but the situation was quite urgent at the time, so I made the decision for you." Zhang Fu's tone was apologetic, "Princess Ding and the princess both liked the scented candle. The princess also asked who came up with the idea of blending fragrances and using patchouli so well, and wanted to meet this person."

Zhang Fu's voice was very slow, but he spoke very clearly. He had no intention of covering up or concealing anything for himself. He just stated, "At that time, I hid it for you. I just said that it was the result of the joint efforts of the craftsmen."

"What do you think?" Li Xiaohan's voice was not angry, but filled with questions and curiosity. What Zhang Fu did was very much in line with her, but Li Xiaohan still wanted to hear it. This reason.

Seeing that Li Xiaohan didn't look angry, Zhang Fu breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "It's time to go to Er Erqi Wu's second father. I thought at the time that you could make scented dew, but based on what I know about you, you shouldn't be able to." I want to make perfume all the time. If you meet the princess, you will probably stay in the palace for a while to make perfume for the princess and the ladies. After you leave the palace, it is estimated that many ladies will come here. , summon you. But I think, in contrast, you might want to go back and stir-fry the pepper base."

When Li Xiaohan was in Pingshan Village, he tried every means to put Li Xiandong in the position of master and negotiated a deal with Mrs. Zhang. She also took the initiative to propose the pepper deal, but she refused the cake business from the beginning. She has such a hard-nosed attitude toward fashion, but now that her career is on the rise, why should she serve and please others? —Due to natural class differences, it is difficult for Li Xiaohan to gain respect among these noble ladies.

At that moment, Zhang Fu instinctively felt that Li Xiaohan would not be willing, so he lied and rejected the princess, "It's just that you came up with the citrus scented dew and patchouli dew, and you also came up with the mixture." Come out, in this area, I have wiped out your contribution after all. Moreover, if you can be praised by the princess, if you are determined to develop in this area, you will have many opportunities."

Zhang Fu believed that he was not Li Xiaohan after all, so he wiped out Li Xiaohan's credit without informing Li Xiaohan, which was contrary to what he had said in the first place. If Li Xiaohan wanted this opportunity, although he didn't understand it, he could think of other ways to compensate.

"You concealed this matter and then lied to the princess. Aren't you afraid that one day it will be exposed?" Li Xiaohan glanced at Zhang Fu and asked.

Isn't this person afraid that one day he will be exposed and he will be implicated?

"If I can say this, I must be able to do a good job in finishing the work. If the princess insists on seeing this person at that time, there will be a craftsman as a representative. You don't have to worry about this." Zhang Fu said, King Ding is not easy to fool, But the princess can still do it.

"That's good, that's how we'll do it from now on." Li Xiaohan said firmly, "I don't want this honor, and I don't want to deal with noble ladies."

She is not a professional in the field of perfume, and she has almost vomited out everything she knows. Forget about the future emperor who will be the king of strategy. After all, he will be the highest person in the future and can give him a lot. It's nothing to go and mix perfume for the princess's ladies. She lacks neither rewards nor opportunities. She doesn't want to serve others, and she has no intention of developing in that direction for the time being.

Hearing what Li Xiaohan said, Zhang Fu's brows finally relaxed, and he comforted Li Xiaohan and said, "Don't be disappointed, you will get more in the future."

"The princess and ladies won't summon me because of Bai Wax, right?" Li Xiaohan was even more worried about this.

In case the noble ladies want to see the person who makes the white wax on a whim, it will be difficult to hide this. After all, fragrances have been around since ancient times. What Li Xiaohan made just added citrus and patchouli. The method of mixing fragrances is not new.

But white wax is different. This is the first time that white wax has appeared in front of the world. And next spring and March, she will have to teach everyone how to cultivate white waxworms. I can't hide it at all.

"Don't worry, I didn't describe the bugs very well. They won't be interested in the bugs." Zhang Fu said, the white wax bugs were not very pleasing in appearance.

"Yes, that's okay." Li Xiaohan was relieved. It was okay to play with aromatherapy, but it was impossible to play with bugs. Of course, ladies use treated white wax and melt it before adding fragrance.

You are still safe. After reaching this conclusion, Li Xiaohan felt relieved. Sure enough, it is a pleasure to find the right partner. What you want, Zhang Fu will get for you. What you don't want, Zhang Fu has already rejected it before you say it.

In order to repay Zhang Fu, Li Xiaohan decided to contribute.

"Then let's talk about how to promote white wax. Although white wax, as long as it is displayed, people who are not blind will see its benefits. Basically, it does not require much promotion to buy it. Price. However, if it is to be regarded as an elegant activity, become a temporary fashion, and sell it at an unusual price, it still needs some effort."

Who would think that he makes a lot of money, and King Ding still needs this money very much now, so naturally he can sell it as high as he can, and he can kill as hard as he can. The wealthy and comfortable place in the south of the Yangtze River should also contribute to their northwest border defense.

"What are your ideas?" Zhang Fu asked. He knew that Li Xiaohan had many ideas in these aspects. The hunger marketing of pepper wine was a genius.

"Have you read the storybook?" Li Xiaohan asked. As for publicity and promotion, we must work hard from the perspective of culture.

"No."

As a result, the two collected a large number of storybooks and analyzed and compared them with the energy of their careers, so as to obtain the most popular elements at the moment.

In the end, the popular novel about the two of them was still the kind of love story about a scholar and lady. Li Xiaohan thought about it and found that compared with the complicated and bloody love dramas of later generations, it was still monotonous. He was sure to design a more interesting one. eye-catching.

"This is what I think. We have to design a story and insert our white wax into it. Can you listen to this? The first life is the goddess and the king's heart in the sky. They had a good impression of each other, and one day, the goddess couldn't bear it when she saw mortals groping in the dark, and wanted to exchange her merits for the white wax worms to bring light to the world. Unexpectedly, the goddess was falsely accused of stealing the white wax worms and letting them shine. After entering the mortal world, he was demoted to a mortal, and the god-king followed the god-daughter into the mortal world."

"In the second life, two aristocratic families who descended from the gods, kings, and daughters did not know each other, and were still hostile to each other. The two secretly fell in love, but the evil men from heaven sent them to break up in disguise, and they had no choice but to separate. In the end The goddess complied with the call from the underworld, took her cute white wax insect with her, completed her mission to the earth, accumulated powers, and finally ascended. The god died in love. "

"In the third life, after the goddess returned, she found that the god came down to earth for her. The two solved their misunderstanding, defeated the villain who framed her in the first place, and finally the lovers got married."

This story combines gods, immortals, misunderstandings, upgrades to fight monsters, and cute pets. It combines all the popular elements that Li Xiaohan knows. It is unique in the current scholar lady flow and is Li Xiaohan's idea. The pinnacle of imagination.

As for how to write it, that depends on Zhang Fu.

"This story will definitely be very popular. It is conceivable that with the popularity of story books, people's desire for white wax will inevitably reach its highest level." Zhang Fu said, "I'm sorry, Miss Li."

Li Xiaohan paused for a moment, as if he was meeting Zhang Fu for the first time: "What do you mean, let her write it, she can't do it."

"Mr. Zhang... I don't know how to read." Haven't I always said you wrote it in the past? Li Xiaohan roared in his heart, after working together for so long, why don't you have any tacit understanding at all?

"Miss Li is kidding. Of course you are literate, you can understand it." Zhang Fu said. He instinctively felt dangerous. He didn't want to write and couldn't write a storybook. "The story designed by Miss Li is so exciting. It's so exciting to write it out." It will naturally become more moving later."

"I can read some words, but I can't write." At this time, Li Xiaohan readily admitted that he was illiterate. He was joking. The script looked good, but he was going to be bald when he wrote it, okay? According to the usual practice, Mr. Zhang still has to come."

So, don't say no.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Fu struggled and said, "How about finding a ghostwriter?"

"Yeah." Li Xiaohan nodded, that's fine, as long as she doesn't write it.

But, for a while, there was no such suitable person.

There are many literate clerks in the general's mansion, but they all write official articles. If you want to find someone who can write well and write well, you have to choose among them. If there are many people to choose from, it will be difficult to keep it secret.

If you want to acquire an outside bookstore, it will take time anyway, and most of the people who write the storybooks are declining scholars. No matter how declining the scholar is, he is still a scholar, and it will take a lot of effort to keep it confidential.

After much deliberation, time was tight, the task was heavy, and confidentiality was required. Zhang Fu was used to controlling things in his own hands, so he could only say helplessly: "Let me give it a try first."

Maybe you can do it with some effort.

Half a day later.

Zhang Fu and Li Xiaohan looked at the large piles of waste paper in the study room. They started with something and wrote it no less than ten times, but none of it was usable. They even wanted to make do with it, but they didn't know how to continue writing it down.

It was difficult for Zhang Fu to write, and it was difficult for Li Xiaohan to read. As he wrote, Zhang Fu also sought Li Xiaohan's opinion on the subsequent plot development.

Asked Zhang Fu, Zhang Fu said that it was impossible and unreasonable. Even heaven should have its own system in order to develop.

As for the human world, let alone that. According to what Zhang Fu said, when my mother went out, there were all the maids and grandmothers watching. How could a young lady from an aristocratic family in the human world secretly develop a life-and-death relationship with the son of a hostile aristocratic family? Undying feelings are not discovered unless the two fall in love and fall in love at first sight.

"How can it be love at first sight? It's face." Zhang Fu said in a very serious and cruel way.

"Don't be logical, don't be brainy, it's just a pastime, a story. I've told it so many times." Li Xiaohan was helpless.

But, how to write a story without logic and brain.

Zhang Fu looked at Li Xiaohan with questions clearly in his eyes. Li Xiaohan didn't know how to answer.

"No way." She would rather go to the kitchen to boil white wax and make aromatherapy.

"Let's find someone. Take your time and don't be in a hurry." Li Xiaohan said, he couldn't embarrass himself anymore.

Zhang Fu remained silent, now it was no longer a question of whether to find someone or not. He is in great pain and doesn't want to write it down, but he also feels pain and doesn't want to admit that he can't write it down.

There was silence in the air for a moment.

At this moment, Qingzhu came to report, "Miss Li, Mr. Li came to say that your clan brother came from Qingshan Academy and I hope you can go home."

It came just in time, and the two of them woke up from the stalemate in an instant.

"Brother Xinhe? What does Brother Xinhe want from me?" Li Xiaohan asked doubtfully, but no matter what, it's great to leave first. "Mr. Zhang, I'll take my leave now."

Unexpectedly, Zhang Fu slowly spoke up and said, "Brother of your clan, you should be able to trust me, right?"

"He can be trusted." This Li Xiaohan can guarantee that she has revealed a lot of things to Li Xinhe. Li Xinhe probably guessed 70% or 80% of it, but Zhang Fu asked what the meaning of this sentence was, "Do you want him to Write?"

"Then let him try."

"That's okay." It would be great if Li Xinhe could participate. It would be good for Li Xinhe, himself, and the Li family.

As the smartest scholar of the Li family and the future leader of the Li family, Brother Xinhe should shoulder more important responsibilities. Let Brother Xinhe give it a try. Maybe Brother Xinhe has this talent. Li Xiaohan nodded, he was right.

Li Xinhe came out of Qingshan Academy. He had nothing serious to do with Li Xiaohan, but he disappeared again after Li Xiaohan asked him to find the relevant information reported by Di.

Li Xiaohan is like a scumbag. When he needs it, he uses it as soon as he thinks of it. After using it, he leaves it alone, leaving Li Xinhe alone with his random thoughts.

Of course, Li Xinhe was still in the dark. He thought that his mentality was not good enough and he had been adjusting himself. However, there was no news for a long time and there was no other way, so he wanted to find Li Xiaohan to exchange information. Even if there is no other way, the two of them can discuss it. For example, they stocked up on food last time. Should they build some stronghold in the mountains this time? At least they would know where to escape if something happened.

However, he didn't expect that he could get so much information through this exchange. Only then did Li Xinhe know what his clan sister and Mr. Zhang were doing. Of course, it was still kept secret.

"So, you want me to write the storybook?" Li Xinhe asked.

"Yes." Li Xiaohan and Zhang Fu nodded in unison.

"Let me give it a try." Li Xinhe rubbed his temples. He had to do something, although what he did was very inconsistent with what he had imagined.

However, Li Xinhe still overestimated himself. All he did was repeat Zhang Fu's failure, and because of Zhang Fu's previous failure experience, Li Xinhe failed faster.

"I know there is a person who is a good writer of conversation books, and his character is trustworthy. It shouldn't be a problem to ask him to keep his conversation books secret." Li Xinhe said with difficulty, "He is my classmate, and I know that he has always been He is making money writing storybooks for outside bookstores. His pen name is very famous, called Luotuo Scholar."

Li Xinhe was talking about his roommate Lin Heng. Lin Heng was a trustworthy friend in Li Xinhe's heart. After checking the Di newspaper last time, Li Xinhe felt that Lin Heng seemed to have noticed something, but he never asked. I sometimes cover up for myself who is checking information.

Hearing Li Xinhe talk about Luotuo scholars, Zhang Fu and Li Xiaohan remembered that the most popular books collected by Zhang Fu were written by Luotuo scholars.

After learning that this person's name was Lin Heng, Li Xiaohan suddenly realized that he was indeed the original male protagonist, and he would think of ways to make a fortune no matter what. Why didn't she think of the script? Forget it, it's useless to even think about it, and I can't write it down.

However, since it was Li Xinhe who said that people can believe it and he wrote it specifically, there is no need to reject it because he is the original male lead, so he should give it a try.

Li Xiaohan and Zhang Fu looked at each other and nodded slightly. Zhang Fu said softly, "Qingzhu." Outside the door, Qingzhu left in response.

Lin Heng heard that his classmate and friend introduced him to a business deal. The price was high, but he had to keep it confidential. Regarding the matter of making money by writing storybooks, Lin Heng did not feel ashamed like most scholars. As his roommate and friend, Li Xinhe did not hide it. It can even be said that Lin Heng took the initiative and consciously He revealed this matter to Li Xinhe.

Just because Lin Heng needs Li Xin and this close friend, not just a classmate with whom he has a good relationship.

Lin Heng was greatly shocked by the incident of turning over the newspaper.

In the past, he always looked at the Lin family and the Zhu family, thinking that he could be proud and proud after high school. Lin Heng is also very confident in himself. After all, Lin Heng has already known about his intelligence and talent. All he lacks is time and opportunity. In this school year, he has grown from Qingshan to Qingshan. Class C in the academy was promoted to Class A. Before, he was in Class C because his family was poor and did not have good resources.

This is what Lin Heng thought before flipping through the newspaper.

After reading the newspaper, Lin Heng suddenly discovered that the world he was in was so dangerous. If something really happened, there would be no difference between his first-class and third-class students in Qingshan Academy. There was no difference even before he was admitted to Qingshan Academy.

A widowed scholar, his information does not come as quickly as Li Xinhe's, and his backing is not as strong as Li Xinhe's - whether it is the Zhu family or the Lin family, if there is really troubled times, they will not be as united as the Li family. If troubled times really come and people have to flee, the Lin family is the one that Lin Heng knows has the best chance of surviving. It is better than those wealthy but not powerful merchants in Fucheng or the scholarly family who have a good reputation but no strength. too much.

Lin Heng wanted to join Li's team, so it was half-purpose, but not all-purpose, because Li Xinhe was indeed a trustworthy person, and Lin Heng gradually became Li Xinhe's most trustworthy friend.

But Lin Heng didn't expect that he just wanted a free ride, and Li Xinhe could provide him with so much.

Not only the remuneration for this storybook, but more importantly, the news about this Baiwa. The Baiwa in the storybook must be true, otherwise General Zhang and his second son would not be involved, as well as this network of contacts and the infinite people behind it. possible.

He finally knew how and why Li Xinhe would check the residence report. Knowing a person like Mr. Zhang, no wonder he would check the residence report.

Li Xinhe: What a big misunderstanding. Today is the second time I met Mr. Zhang and the first time I talked to Mr. Zhang.

Taking a deep breath in his heart, Lin Heng pretended not to know anything, "If you want to write a storybook, you can. But let me explain first, I am not a writer. I still need to understand the requirements first."

So, the outline of Li Xiaohan's story came out.

As a famous scholar in the storybook world and a big-shot figure who occupies the top spot in the popular rankings, Lin Heng felt that this story, which already had character design, story framework, and outstanding elements, was too restrictive. played.

"No problem." Lin Heng said.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Great, no more torture.

=== Chapter === 94

November, winter, the twenty-fourth year of Taihe.

Scattered light snow fell outside the house, the wind blew the snow, and there was a cold silence between heaven and earth.

At No. 7 Qingming Lane, Li Xiaohan sat at the desk in the hall and concentrated on painting a bookmark with aromatherapy.

More than half a month ago, Lin Heng wrote the lingering and soul-stirring "The Light of White Wax", which moved those who read it to tears. Li Xiaohan and others even loved it - it's done, that's it, it will definitely be popular. .

In order to maximize the publicity, at Li Xiaohan's suggestion, Zhang Fu sent additional manpower to print "The Light of Pewter" in large quantities, using personal connections to cover the entire area. Visit the bookstores in the streets and alleys of Jiangnan. I also spent money to find the storyteller, who came from the teahouse and inn and started telling stories.

The publicity and promotion fee is too expensive. In order to spread the book quickly, the book cannot be priced at a high price for the time being. As a result, it actually lost money in the beginning.

So, they came up with the concept of a hardcover version of "The Light of Pewter". In fact, they just changed the paper to better ones, made the cover more gorgeous, and added some cardboard coated with perfume. Bookmark - this is what Li Xiaohan painted on his hand.

This bookmark is very exquisite. It is made of cardboard. On the front, there is a detailed depiction of a man and a woman walking back to back. The woman is wearing beautiful clothes and walking forward with a burning candle in her palm. The man is wearing soap-colored clothes. , going in the opposite direction. But if you look closely, the man's steps are too small. At this moment, he is turning around and looking back, while the woman who is walking forward has tears in her eyes...

Li Xiaohan should lightly apply perfume on the back with a brush to avoid damaging the front picture, so that the bookmark looks fragrant and beautiful. When sandwiched in the book, the whole book will be fragrant.

In order to achieve this effect, Li Xiaohan still contributed his own alcohol. Fragrance oil and other essential oils tend to leave oil stains on the paper, but after incorporating the alcohol, apply it carefully to the back. , that both looks and smells good.

Such a hardcover version is naturally expensive. According to Zhang Fu, it costs ten taels of silver per copy.

It almost scared Li Xiaohan, Li Xinhe and Lin Heng who had never seen the world. They just felt that they could not sell it.

However, Zhang Fu said very calmly, "Jiangnan was not greatly affected by the previous dynasty. Now it has been recuperating for decades, and it is even richer. There are many rich people there. They are not afraid of being expensive, but they are not afraid of being rare." ."

All right. The three of them accepted it with surprise.

However, apart from sending a few copies to the palace in Dingcheng, there is no such rare material on the market. Even the ordinary version of the story book has not yet been distributed - since it is If you cut leeks at a high price, you must be cutting off other people. There is no need for you to kill each other.

The storybook was spread out in Jiangnan for more than ten days, and after it was determined that the publicity effect was achieved, the first batch of scented candles was made and shipped to Jiangnan seven days ago. After all, you have to make the fragrance first and then mix it to make the candle, which takes a little more time than printing a printed book.

Calculated, the first two days should be the first day of official sales of aromatherapy white wax.

After Li Xiaohan finished painting this bookmark, he put it in the book, but did not continue to paint the next bookmark. He stretched his tired cervical spine and said softly, "I don't know where Jiangnan is." How are the pewter sales going?"

The other three people who were painting around the table also had a meal. Although it was said to be confidential, in fact, there was no need to keep it secret to the extent that the four of them could paint bookmarks together. Everyone was here, but they also wanted to wait. The information from Jiangnan was fed back.

How is the situation over there in Jiangnan?

In the 24th year of Taihe, winter, Jiangnan.

Different from the northwest, there is also a bit of chill in Jiangnan at this moment, but this chill, compared to the stinging in the northwest, is like the quarrel between lovers.

Located in the most prosperous center of Jiangnan, Zhaixing Tower, several young men were drinking tea and chatting at the moment, but their expressions lost their calmness and were quite unhappy.

"These women are really brainless. They are just a storybook. They are actually obsessed with it. They believe that there is really a love that will last forever until death."

"That's right, there's that white wax insect, isn't it just a bee, but it feels different after changing its name."

At this time, one of the young masters put his head in and whispered, "Have you heard that the marriage between the Han and Xie families has not been concluded?"

As soon as these words came out, the others immediately became energetic, "What's going on? It's not that we've already agreed, we just have to ask the matchmaker to do the ceremony at the end. These two families are family friends, how did they get to this point. "

The young master who spoke out first said excitedly, "I heard that the young masters of the Han and Xie families disagreed, and felt that the other party was not their destined one. The two families are so good. , "The Light of White Wax" said that the second reincarnation of the divine king and goddess was a feud."

Everyone clucked their tongues, not expecting that this was actually the case. One of the young men in blue said angrily, "Let's just say these two are crazy. They are just telling the truth."

"Oh, it's hard to say. These two are not the only ones who are crazy. There are several people in Jiangnan who are not obsessed with the goddess." A young man took a sip of tea and sighed.

"I don't have any." The young man in blue said firmly.

"Hey, Lan Ju, don't tell me that I'm talking about you. I heard that your childhood sweetheart hasn't paid much attention to you recently. Why? I don't think you are the reincarnation of the god."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I care about her. It's a joke. I have so many childhood sweethearts that I don't care about that one."

"Haha, you have to be as tough as you say. Who doesn't know that you will be eaten to death?"

"Haha, Chen Er, don't talk about me. My servant said it. I saw you go to the bookstore and ask for the hardcover version of "The Light of Pewter" several times. Who doesn't know that the paperback version only sells ninety-nine copies a day? What about the idea of picking one out of a hundred? How many sets do you want to buy for yourself? One set for collection, one set for self-viewing, and one set ready to be given away?"

"Oh, I can't give it to my sister. Do you think everyone is like you?"

"Hahaha, this is the first time I heard that Chen Er, you are such a good brother."

"Okay, okay, don't quarrel, don't lose the brotherhood." The mature and steady person among the few people persuaded with a hint of bitterness, "We are all the same, and it will be fine after this time. .It will be fine after this time."

This time, no one can laugh at anyone. For a moment, the whole room was silent.

The persuasive brother was quite embarrassed for a moment. He coughed lightly, cleared his throat and changed the topic, "By the way, what is the store next to Zhaixing Building doing? It has been renovated for half a month, and no one has appeared. Come and take charge."

"I heard that they are from Dingcheng, not from our local area. It looks like it will open soon."

"Oh." Others were no longer interested. What could be found in the northwest of Dingcheng.

The few people lost interest again, and suddenly there was a commotion downstairs, which was very noisy and disturbing.

"Xiao Er , Xiao Er , what happened outside? Why is it so noisy?"

After shouting for a long time, the waiter hurried in and gasped, "Master, Master, the shop next to it is open. The name of the shop is called Pewter Light, and it sells "Pewter Light" "The candles made from white wax insects inside, the kind with all kinds of fragrances..."

Before the waiter had finished speaking, all the young masters in the private room had disappeared.

"Master, Master, you haven't paid the bill yet..." the waiter shouted.

But at this time, there was no one there, the entire Star Reaching Tower was empty.

"Shopkeeper?" The waiter asked.

The shopkeeper looked out and didn't look back when he heard the words, "Charge everything to their account, it's okay."

It's so lively outside, the shopkeeper thought to himself, he wants to go too. It looks like he can't afford it anymore, but he can go see what's new and then go back and tell his daughter.

Thinking so, that's what the shopkeeper did. Anyway, there were not many people in the shop now. He coughed slightly and the shopkeeper said seriously, "Waiter, you watch in the shop, I'll go talk to the neighbor." say hi."

"Yes, it's from the shopkeeper." The waiter said dejectedly. Nowadays, the neighbor's shop has no time to receive people. The shopkeeper of his own shop just goes to watch the fun. It's a shame that he didn't bring him with him. He also I want to go, "Shopkeeper, please come back quickly, we can't miss you in the store."

"I know, I know." The shopkeeper moved out of the counter and ran out with a brisk pace that was very inconsistent with his fat figure.

At this moment, next to the Star-Zhaing Building and in front of the White Wax Light Shop, there was a huge crowd. The noble gentlemen had put down their usual airs and were so crowded that their faces were red and their demeanor was gone.

Inside the White Wax Light store, the decoration design concept is very dreamy and exquisite. The theme decoration of the store is a leafless tree as tall as one person. Each branch hangs a small candlestick with various kinds of candlesticks hanging on it. There are various scented candles in shapes, white, pink, goose yellow... and the flavors are also different, such as jasmine, osmanthus, frangipani, citrus, pine and cypress...

When the candles are lit, all kinds of candles glow and emit charming fragrance.

There is no need for the waiter to explain. Anyone who has read the storybook "The Light of White Wax" and smells this smell will know that the white wax made by the goddess written in the book has become a reality.

However, this successful design has a doubled effect at this moment. A group of round-shouldered guards surrounded the tree hung with candles, holding hands and walking steadily to prevent the crowd from pushing forward, "Don't Squeeze, don't squeeze, it's true that candles will catch fire. Don't squeeze, go to the front counter to buy them, they have them all at the front counter."

This last sound was all heard, and the guards almost broke their voices by shouting: "Going from life to death, breaking through mountains of swords and seas of blood," and they were almost squeezed to death by this group of young masters who were watching the fun.

Fortunately, after hearing that sound, all the young men turned their heads and squeezed towards the counter. The counter was already crowded with smart people who had taken the first step, and the pressure increased a lot at this moment.

"Bring me ten boxes of rose scented products. What, each person is limited to buying two boxes. There are too many people and there is not enough to sell. Then bring me two boxes, come two boxes."

"Jasmine fragrance, please bring me two boxes of jasmine fragrance."

"Frangipani, frangipani, I want two boxes of frangipani."

If you can get two boxes, you can't get one box.

The inventory in the store has been reduced visibly. Those who bought it were carefully carried out and walked out. Those who did not buy it became even more anxious when they saw it.

At this moment, the shopkeeper suddenly raised a larger and more luxurious hardcover box, "All aromatherapy package, gifted with a hardcover version of "Light of Pewter", and the customized pine and cypress incense that the goddess was going to give to the god. 2 One hundred and ninety-nine taels. Only one box per person, while supplies last."

When the shopkeeper shouted out the price, his heart trembled. Twenty candles, plus a hardcover book, and a small bottle of pine and cypress aromatherapy.

Two hundred and ninety-nine taels. Not twenty-nine, nor nine or two.

"Me. I want a box!"

"Me. I want a box!"

The shopkeeper's heart dropped, and he was ready to see who the two fools with the most money were.

2. Fools also look to see who has the same goals as them. Unexpectedly, I saw that they were old acquaintances. They were drinking and bickering together just now.

"Hmph, Lan Ju."

"Hmph, Chen Er ."

With a slight snort, they each turned their heads away.

"Congratulations, Mr. Chen, and congratulations, Mr. Lan, for getting our store's first hardcover gift box." The shopkeeper smiled.

"I, I also want a copy of this hardcover gift box." A young man on the other side of the door shouted loudly.

The crowd will be moved. The young masters here are not shouting as if they can't afford the more than two hundred taels. But some people really can't afford it, and it's really embarrassing at this moment.

At this moment, a shocking change occurred again, "Today's nineteen hardcover gift boxes have been sold out, come back the next day. There are still scented candles, is there anyone who wants them. Except for the pine and cypress fragrance, they are all the same Do you want."

This sentence seems to have rekindled everyone's enthusiasm. Whether they really want to buy it or pretend to buy it, they are all wailing at this moment, "What, this is gone."

They're all the same, so why lose points? It's just that the scent of pine and cypress is missing.

At this moment, a box of twelve scented candles of two seems so cheap.

"Bring me two boxes of rose scent. Bring me two boxes of rose scent."

"Bring me two boxes of jasmine. They are jasmine, not jasmine."

"What, Jasmine is gone? She's not here..."

"If you have anything else , anything is fine, give me two boxes!"

At that time, candles in Jiangnan were expensive, and the ones they burned were not white wax, but white silver.

"Quick, quick, hurry back to Dingcheng and tell the young master that the supply in Jiangnan exceeds demand and won't last long. Send the goods over as soon as possible. Send as much as you can."

"The list of big customers who have come to register for the hardcover gift box has been queued up until next month. Tell me, sir, if we don't ship it, we will soon offend people."

"Major merchants from around Jiangnan came to discuss cooperation. Some of the powerful merchants have bypassed us and gone directly to Dingcheng."

A group of riders galloped up from the south of the Yangtze River, stepping over the green willow embankment, over the green mountains and dusty mountains, into the flying white snow, and into the secluded alleys of Dingcheng.

"Report."

"Come in."

"Sir, please report urgently."

The dusty guard handed over the urgent report. Zhang Fu took it and opened it, his face became solemn and his brows furrowed.

"What's wrong?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"Urgent report from the border defense. The wind and snow have gotten worse in the past two days. The Western Tartars took advantage of this situation to send troops and plundered a village on the border." Zhang Fu said while handing the document in his hand to Li Xiaohan.

For a moment, everyone around them stared at these two people, "What happened next?"

"General Zhang under King Ding sent forwards to arrive and killed all the Western Tartar soldiers. Everyone in the village was experienced and there were not many casualties. Only their homes were destroyed." Li Xiaohan said.

"But what are you doing? The Western Tartar army said that the small group of soldiers just lost their way. Our army shot first and injured people. Ask King Ding to compensate, otherwise don't blame them." Li Xiaohan said doubtfully.

"This is obviously slander. I'll beat him up." Li Xinhe stood up angrily.

"It's just a pretext, the war is about to begin." Zhang Fu sighed.

"Yes, the general requires logistics and armament preparations." Li Xiaohan looked at the document and said.

For a moment, there was silence in the room, and everyone felt panic, as if the fighting was about to begin.

With the power of securing the city, can half of the army be prepared for war?

"Report." Another rider came quickly.

"Come in."

"Second Young Master, Jiangnan came to report. Pewter wax is in great demand, and the supply exceeds demand. Jiangnan is crazy about it. Also, there is intelligence from Jiangnan that many merchants are preparing to go north to Dingcheng to discuss the pewter business. "The Pewter of Pewter" "Light" hardcover edition business, and the pepper wine business."

"Okay. Stop the supply in Jiangnan and tell the shopkeeper that we only sell that much every day."

"Let's go out privately. We have white wax in Dingcheng, hardcover editions, and pepper wine. We need food, medicinal materials, iron tools, and no silver. Let them bring the goods in exchange."

=== Chapter === 95

"The first sale of white wax has achieved such good results. It seems that our words are really touching." Li Xiaohan praised with a smile.

Li Xinhe and Zhang Fu also looked at Lin Heng. Li Xinhe praised directly, "Brother Zhiyuan, you have really worked hard." The young male protagonist, who has just emerged, is obviously younger than Li Xinhe.

"Given this good opportunity, we should strike while the iron is hot. For people coming from the south of the Yangtze River, we should give some special discounts to the guests coming from the same way. What do you think, Mr. Lin, please write another extra story?" Li Xiaohan suggested. road.

"What's an extra?"

"I just want to write some things after the ending, such as the sweet and happy days of the Goddess in heaven, or one day when they go down to earth to experience life on earth. Of course, the most important thing is to be happy, sweet and touching. I believe everyone Everyone will enjoy watching it." Li Xiaohan guided.

"Yes, yes." Li Xinhe praised, "Xiaohan's idea is really good."

"The storybook is easy to be stolen. Printing another edition with extras will indeed make the merchants from Jiangnan more satisfied. Moreover, after the storybook is engraving, the more copies are printed, the more profit will be made. The sum of small sums can not be underestimated. Mr. Lin, if you can write another extra story, I can pay the retouching fee." Zhang Fu cooperated very well.

"Master Lin, what do you think?" Li Xiaohan smiled.

"No problem." What else could Lin Heng do. I just had the illusion that I was being led to work.

Forget it, why do you have such an illusion? Lin Heng shook his head and woke himself up, "I'll go back and think about it and submit the manuscript to you as soon as possible."

"It's no problem. Mr. Lin slowly thought about it. It will be fine if the merchants from Jiangnan can print it before they arrive." Li Xiaohan said.

The journey from Jiangnan to Dingcheng usually takes about seven days by carriage, but with a large caravan and numerous escorts, it is estimated to take half a month. Even so, there is not much time left for Lin Heng.

At this time, everyone understands. Lin Heng couldn't help but have to rush to finish the manuscript again.

After saying this, Li Xinhe and Lin Heng said goodbye. After all, they were students in the academy. Taking leave for many days would not delay their homework, but it was not good after all. The storybook can be written in the academy, and then sent out for printing. Now everyone has absolute trust in Lin Heng's ability in this area.

After sending away Li Xinhe and Lin Heng, only Li Xiaohan and Zhang Fu were left. There were many things that Li Xinhe and Lin Heng did not know, such as the secret recipes of citrus fragrance and patchouli fragrance. , so the two of them can speak more frankly at this time.

"Over in the south of the Yangtze River, it is estimated that traditional fragrances such as jasmine, rose, and osmanthus will soon be cracked. Although there is no patchouli blessing, there is no way for aromatherapy to be that bad. It has a long-lasting fragrance, but as long as you are willing to spend money and increase the proportion of fragrance, the difference is probably not much. After all, the price of this scented candle is so high that you can still make money by adding more fragrance."

"Then citrus and patchouli are our biggest advantages, especially patchouli, which needs to be kept secret. Apart from patchouli, I don't know the rest."

Li Xiaohan specifically pointed out Patchouli, because even if the secret of Patchouli was leaked, there would be nothing she could do. After all, she could not cross the technology tree and create artificial flavors.

"Don't worry, a separate person is responsible for the extraction of citrus and patchouli. Moreover, patchouli is called pine and cypress on the surface. I also collect some pine branches and cypress leaves as a cover-up method on weekdays. What I really do is If you find it through Renhetang's channels, you will only think it is an ordinary medicine."

When it comes to doing business, Zhang Fu now knows that he is not as good as his mother in terms of details, and not as good as Li Xiaohan in terms of layout and novelty. However, when it comes to keeping secrets, Zhang Fu thinks he is still good at it. Not bad.

Sometimes Zhang Fu felt it was amazing that Li Xiaohan seemed to be born with a kind of political sensitivity, not in specific details, but in the overall situation. He was obviously born into a family of imperial officials. Although his father and eldest brother only wanted to fight, in the end they could only cling to King Ding's thigh.

This kind of sensitivity should be tempered by the rich and powerful who studied history and were immersed in officialdom since childhood.

Could it be that we can still rely on nature?

Li Xiaohan didn't know what Zhang Fu was thinking, so he continued, "For people coming from the south of the Yangtze River, scented candles still have to be priced at a high price. After all, white wax is still rare and expensive. Of course, if businessmen from the south of the Yangtze River come back, they will There is no profit in Jiangnan, and it is easy to collide with us. But we can give up the Beijing market. That area is too sensitive, and we should not jump there."

Li Xiaohan changed and introduced the regional agency system of later generations. It is nothing more than dividing the territory and sharing the food to avoid vicious competition.

"Sure, no problem." This move was so wonderful that Zhang Fuhe agreed without even thinking about it.

If you go to the capital to ask for food and medicine, you will probably be jumping over the head of His Majesty the Emperor who has worked so hard to pave the way for your grandson. Why bother? Just leave it to the big businessmen in Jiangnan.

"When the white wax comes down next year, we will lower the price. In this way, we will attract not only big businessmen, but also some small and medium-sized businessmen. In this way, even if the court takes action, Don't be afraid anymore. If there are too many people, it will be difficult to handle." Li Xiaohan sighed.

After all, in the first year, it is still restricted by production volume. However, once the output increases and an industrial chain can be formed, there is basically nothing to worry about.

"The White Wax side is okay. The existing inventory, based on the current scale, is probably a bit unsatisfactory until next year. However, there are advantages to being dissatisfied. We will be able to sell better next year. I People have been sent to take care of various tree species, and the output is expected to double next year." After all, Zhang Fu has no experience in the past, so Zhang Fu's estimate of the output of artificially cultivated white wax next year is still conservative.

After confirming these details carefully, there was nothing more, and I fell into silence for a while.

Is there really nothing more?

In fact, they are all smart people. After talking about scripts and white wax, aromatherapy is inevitable, and aromatherapy cannot be separated from alcohol.

All the secret recipes for wine are in Li Xiaohan's hands. Only Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong know about them. This time the hardcover bookmarks were painted with perfume, which not only depleted Li Xiaohan's alcohol inventory, but also Li Xiaohan's alcohol inventory. Li Xiandong went back to seclusion and worked hard for several days before they had enough.

Being able to blend all fragrance oils and then spray them out directly makes this high-end fragrance market exciting. You must know that spices have been expensive since ancient times. Burning incense and smoked clothes has always been a money-burning hobby of elegant literati.

The price of white wax is artificially high, but back to its essence, it is actually a better candle. After this wave of craze, when people calm down, they may not be willing to pay high prices for white wax lighting anymore, but they will definitely be willing to pay high prices for this aromatherapy, especially the perfume made after alcohol melts sesame oil, which is more refreshing and convenient than traditional incense burning. .

However, if the alcohol production cannot be increased, it will be useless to say anything.

Li Xiaohan looked at Zhang Fu. In fact, she had also been thinking about this issue recently, how to maximize her own interests without conflict.

"Alcohol is different from white wax. After all, it is brewed from grain, and it is not suitable to be promoted throughout Dingcheng for the time being." Li Xiaohan started the conversation first.

"Of course. In fact, we just need to increase the production volume. Miss Li can keep the secret recipe." Zhang Fu said, with a hint of guilt. After all, Li Xiaohan has done so many things. , but all the rewards given to Li Xiaohan can only be cashed out in the future.

"No, you actually don't understand it clearly enough." Li Xiaohan looked serious, "Alcohol is the essence of wine, one out of ten, one pound of alcohol out of ten pounds of wine."

"You can't drink alcohol. You can understand that when the concentration of alcohol is too high, it is easy to drunk people to death. In the same way," Li Xiaohan paused slightly and became more cautious, "Alcohol can kill other things, such as all kinds of filth. Qi. For example, after trauma, the wound is most likely to become red, swollen, pusy, and hot due to the invasion of dirty gas. However, if you use scissors disinfected with alcohol to treat the wound, the wound will not be easily contaminated."

After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, she looked at Zhang Fu. She knew that Zhang Fu, whose father and brother were in the army and had been dealing with military supplies, must know how important what she was talking about was. After all, when marching and fighting, the most common injuries are trauma.

Li Xiaohan did not dare to underestimate the wisdom of the ancients, thinking that traditional Chinese medicine is only related to Chinese herbal medicine. It should be noted that Hua Tuo invented Ma Fei Powder for surgery. In the Three Kingdoms, Guan Yu's bone scraping to cure poison was obviously a surgical operation.

The treasure of the Jiangyin Museum is the surgical medical instruments shown in the tombs of the Ming Dynasty, including a complete set of surgical scalpels, small iron scissors, probes, copper forks, etc. Li Xiaohan's major and later work were more or less related to these, so he knew more about them.

Therefore, alcohol can also play a vital role in this dynasty.

She once thought about whether she should tell this thing, and whether she could survive it safely after telling it, and whether she could keep her secrets and life.

She thought that if she misjudged the wrong person and Zhang Fu or others had the intention to seize the secret recipe, and if torture was used, she would definitely give in and reveal the secret recipe immediately.

However, she has also measured that she has enough weight. With the cultivation of white wax next spring and March, the reputation and secret recipe of her own pepper wine, and herself as a person, she should be able to do it. In the minds of these people, it still has some use.

Measured, measured, she was only 80% sure, and the remaining 20% was probably stupid.

Because this time and space is so different from her past history, but yet so similar.

If the wheel of history rolls down, will we have to experience another hundred years of humiliation, and the entire nation will be slaughtered?

If she tells what she knows in advance, right? If the butterfly flaps its wings, some of the fire she left behind and some of the elites she indirectly saved will have a meeting somewhere in the future. The result will be history. We will turn another corner here.

Probably stupid, Li Xiaohan thought to himself, who do you think you are.

A nobody, a supporting character's supporting character.

"On behalf of all the soldiers in the army, I would like to thank Miss Li for informing me of this matter." Zhang Fu looked serious, "It's just that this matter is of great importance. I need to confirm the extent of the effects of alcohol."

"Don't you suspect that I'm trying to impress others?"

"Miss Li can still make a lot of money if she doesn't tell this matter. If Miss Li tells this matter, she will put herself in danger. If I am not stupid, I will not fail to see the key point. "

Li Xiaohan looked at Zhang Fu and smiled slowly, "Okay, you go and confirm it."

Zhang Fu's confirmation came from Dr. Zhang. Who can prove the practicality of alcohol better than a doctor?

Dr. Zhang's proof method was also very simple. After hearing about the possible effects of alcohol, he found two rabbits, opened his medical box, and used his scalpel to make a long cut on one rabbit. After sterilizing the scalpel with alcohol, make a cut on another rabbit at almost the same position.

Blood flowed horizontally, and the skin and flesh tumbled.

Li Xiaohan stared at the bleeding wound, feeling slightly dizzy. The wind and snow were still there, and the room was dim. In order to see clearly, he lit a white candle. Of course, for the sake of economy, they lit white wax without any fragrance instead of scented candles.

I don't know whether it was a flash of inspiration or a fascination, but the words of his roommate in his previous life suddenly echoed in Li Xiaohan's ears, "White wax was not only a lighting tool in ancient times, but also a Chinese herbal medicine. It has the functions of stopping bleeding, promoting muscle growth, resisting germs, and relieving coughs." Antidiarrheal effect."

Anyway, before he came to his senses, Li Xiaohan had already dug out a ball of wax that softened and flowed down after burning at the bottom of the candle, and then applied it to the rabbit's wound.

"Miss Li, are your hands burned?" Zhang Fu asked urgently, and then shouted out, "Qingzhu, come here with the burn medicine."

Doctor Zhang frowned and looked at the rabbit's wound. He neither spoke nor took off the white wax. He just stared at it, not knowing what he was thinking.

Qingzhu took the medicine quickly. Li Xiaohan's hand was only a little red from the burn, and there were no blisters at the moment. However, Zhang Fu still asked Li Xiaohan to apply the burn medicine.

For a moment, the room was silent, Zhang Fu was applying medicine, and Li Xiaohan didn't know how to explain his abnormality.

"The bleeding has stopped. The bleeding has actually stopped!"

Doctor Zhang's incredulous voice broke the silence. He turned around and looked at Li Xiaohan with eyes that seemed to be shining wildly. "Miss Li, how did you come up with this idea? How did you come up with this idea?"

"Well, I just... I just felt that if it was blocked, the blood wouldn't flow out."

"Yes, yes, you're right. If it's blocked, the blood won't flow out." Doctor Zhang's voice revealed a sudden realization, and then he raised the knife and dropped it. There was another wound on the rabbit's body, and then the wound appeared again. It was coated with white wax.

It only made the rabbit run around in the cage in pain. These damn humans can only kill rabbits, so why should they torture rabbits like this?

"It's stopped again. It's stopped again." Doctor Zhang was ecstatic.

Li Xiaohan silently took a step back. Okay, just leave it all to Dr. Zhang.

Doctor Zhang was full of experimental desire at this moment, and his face turned red. He wanted to try it seven or eight times, but there were only two rabbits here. After a few more strokes, the white wax stopped. Blood, that's all the blood of the rabbit.

After walking around the table a few times, Dr. Zhang stuffed the jar of alcohol and white wax into his medical kit, picked up the rabbit cage and left - there were a lot of test subjects in the medical clinic. There is no need to be helpless around two rabbits here.

"Wait a minute, Doctor Zhang, look at Miss Li's hands." Zhang Fu shouted quickly.

Doctor Zhang turned around, his eyes changed from the original joy to very impatient. At this time, the boss was really very annoying.

"No, no, it doesn't hurt anymore." Li Xiaohan raised his right hand and signaled quickly.

"No need, it'll be fine in two days." After saying this, Doctor Zhang left with the pace of killing gods and Buddhas, leaving only the two of them in embarrassment.

"Ahem, I'm going back first. Regarding the alcohol and pepper wine, I'll think about it before I get back to you." Li Xiaohan said.

"Oh, I'll see you off." Zhang Fu followed silently.

Qingming Alley and Gumen Alley are close to each other, and the carriage stopped at the door. But Li Xiaohan didn't get off the horse, and Zhang Fu didn't get off the horse either. For a moment, both of them were silent.

"The wine department needs manpower. I hope that I will appoint someone in this regard."

To increase production, we must have more talents. Since we need people, why can't they be people from the Li clan. Who else can protect their own interests better than the Li clan members.

"Sure." Zhang Fu said simply.

=== Chapter === 96

"Dingcheng side really said that they are willing to give up the capital market?"

At the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, several middle-aged people in brocade clothes sat together, drinking tea and discussing. The first person who couldn't help but speak was one of the middle-aged people wearing a dark embroidery pattern with hundreds of flowers. .

"We sent people to confirm the news that came from the shopkeeper of White Wax Light. It should be true."

Although it is said to bypass the Pewter Light and go directly to Dingcheng to purchase goods, it is not a conflict to say hello to the Pewter Light shopkeeper. Besides, when setting off to Dingcheng, one must make adequate preparations, especially at this time, which is approaching the twelfth lunar month of winter. If one encounters a small group of bandits who are unable to survive, they must not summon all the guards before setting off.

After waiting and waiting, the news came that Dingcheng would only accept grain, medicinal materials and ironware. What was even more shocking was that Dingcheng was actually willing to give up the market in the capital.

Originally it was just a novelty business. After all, the pepper wine and white wax aromatherapy in Dingcheng are indeed new.

However, it is not that Jiangnan has never seen anything. People have their own advantages. They always purchase goods from Dingcheng and are always second-rate dealers. Otherwise, the pepper wine before would not have been inactive. Now, add a scented candle. The reaction was strong.

However, if you give up a market in the capital, it will no longer be a second-rate dealer. Even if you are a second-tier dealer, you are still a second-tier dealer with a monopoly.

It doesn't matter whether you make money or not, the main thing is whether you can knock on the doors of the nobles in the capital.

"The imperial court is mainly suppressing Dingcheng, and Dingcheng is also very taboo about the capital. With the word filial piety suppressed, it is understandable that people in Dingcheng are unwilling to go to the capital." said a businessman.

These businessmen are very well-informed. Besides, with the general trend of the world, how can we not pay more attention to it? Who here dares to say that he does not have a dream of being an official or businessman.

King Ding did not dare to go to the capital, but they did. Scented candles are so popular in Jiangnan, and I think the ladies and princesses in the capital won't hate them either.

"In this case, we will do this business with Dingcheng." The top businessman said calmly.

"It's just that we are transporting grain to Dingcheng, so we are afraid of violating a taboo." The speaker was a cautious man, pointing to the sky above, and the meaning was self-evident.

"We are just ordinary grain and grass merchants, just doing business normally. Besides, the people in Dingcheng are more afraid than us, and will help to cover it up tighter." In this world, the coward will be starved to death, and the bold will be starved to death. Transport some grain and grass The medicinal materials have only arrived in Dingcheng. At most, they brought a few iron pots and shovels with them, so what else can be done.

"That's true." Several people present nodded, they are all legal businessmen.

Therefore, the Jiangnan merchants who were in a hurry stopped again. After all, it would take some time to exchange the silver for food and medicinal materials.

During this period of time, the scented candles in the Pewter Light store were as in demand as ever, and the daily limited supply of nine gift boxes was in short supply. No matter how hard you try, the shopkeeper of Pewter Light just insists that there is no stock. No matter how hard you push, there will be no exceptions. Sometimes it's strange that if you offend everyone, no one will be offended. Everyone is equal and has to rob.

Five days later, the first batch of merchants prepared goods and manpower and set off from Jiangnan.

"They are coming." Zhang Fu unfolded the emergency report in his hand and handed it to Li Xiaohan.

"What did you bring in the first batch?" Li Xiaohan asked without looking.

"Food. This Jiangnan area has the most, is also the safest, and is the most suitable for exploring routes." Zhang Fu said with a smile, "I guess the first few times will be food and medicinal materials. Only after we are sure that it is safe, will the iron tools come in."

"That's okay. You have to take your time." Li Xiaohan said, "How is the research done by Dr. Zhang?"

"Doctor Zhang has been forgetting about food and sleep for several days." Zhang Fu said with a cramped smile in his eyes, "It has been proven that white wax has an immediate effect in stopping bleeding and promoting muscle growth. The one you mentioned is blocked. The simple and crude theory that blood will not flow out after bleeding is regarded as truth by Dr. Zhang. Currently, Dr. Zhang is testing whether mixing white wax with other medicinal materials such as Albizia Julibrissin bark can have better effects."

"Doctor Zhang asked me to leave a sufficient amount of white wax for him to test and use." Zhang Fu said with a wry smile, "I guess the army will also ask for it to be used as medicinal materials soon."

"Then we have to cover it more tightly and sell it more expensively." Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "What are the results of the alcohol test?"

"The effect of alcohol is not as fast and obvious as that of white wax. Symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat and pus will take a while to be seen. Dr. Zhang said that at present, alcohol is at least harmless, so it can be used in large quantities. Test, we can see it after the test data comes in."

"Doctor Zhang's experimental environment is great. You can ask him to try a less messy environment." Li Xiaohan suggested.

As a doctor, Dr. Zhang did a good job in cleaning himself, so the contrast was not strong. Li Xiaohan had no doubt about the disinfection ability of alcohol.

However, "it will be too late to wait until Dr. Zhang finishes the experiment to prepare the goods. The merchants from Jiangnan have to prepare alcohol aromatherapy before coming up. I have to make preparations in advance."

"I'm going back to Pingshan Village." Li Xiaohan dropped a bomb easily.

"Miss Li, why are you doing this? Wouldn't it be better for you to stay in Fucheng? Is there any inconvenience or dissatisfaction here?" Zhang Fu asked anxiously.

"It's very good, very convenient, and very satisfactory. But I have already done what I can do. I have given you the secret recipe of white wax and fragrant dew. I have also done the preliminary work, and the rest will be done." Just stick to the plan. I have to go back and do my own thing."

Li Xiaohan smiled lightly and said, "Mr. Zhang, must he have forgotten that I am originally a farm girl from Pingshan Village. Farming fields and making wine are my life."

Zhang Fu had nothing to say for a moment. This sentence is full of mistakes, but for the moment I can't tell what's wrong. There is no such thing as an ordinary farm girl.

"I'm not kidding Mr. Zhang, I'm going to build a pepper wine shop in Pingshan Village. All the wine brewers will be made by my Li family. Do you want to become a shareholder?" Li Xiaohan said.

"Buy shares?"

"Yes, buy a share. I plan to mobilize the tribe to grow pepper, and then the pepper winery will buy it and make pepper wine for sale. By the way, the alcohol will also be processed in the winery, so that the production can be increased. . Mr. Zhang, do you want to try my new product?"

Zhang Fu was confused. He had drank the pepper wine before, so he still needed to try it? It's just a new product, but what kind of new product is it?

Li Xiaohan took out a small wine jar, and then took out two small wine glasses. People nowadays like big bowls for drinking, including the pepper wine, but this small wine glass is only two fingers thick and thumb long. It is white porcelain, small and delicate. .

Li Xiaohan filled two small wine glasses half full. You can tell the difference as soon as the wine comes out. The color of the wine is clear and has no impurities. It is a bit better than the best mellow wine. Secondly, this is only half a glass of wine. , the aroma of the wine overflowed slightly.

Li Xiaohan picked up one of the cups and motioned to Zhang Fu, "Mr. Zhang, please."

Zhang Fu picked up the wine glass and imitated Li Xiaohan, putting it under his nose and smelling it: What a rich wine aroma.

Taking another sip, the wine tasted very strong, slightly pungent in the mouth, and had a mellow aftertaste. Zhang Fu thought he had drunk a lot of wine, but the best wine was as light as water compared to this.

"What kind of wine is this?" Zhang Fu asked. Miss Li could surprise him every time.

"Soju, what do you think?"

"Those literati and elegant guests must like it." Zhang Fu affirmed and took another sip.

"Why do you say that?" Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows and asked knowingly.

"Li Bai's hundred poems about drinking wine, with a preface by Wang Xizhi in Orchid Pavilion after he got drunk."

Zhang Fu said in his eyes "I don't believe you don't know", but he still explained with a smile, "Since ancient times, this wine has been the catalyst for the inspiration of literati and elegant guests. It's just that in the past, this wine was too weak, so I had to drink half of it. I'm only a little drunk when I'm full, and sometimes I even leave half a time, so my inspiration is interrupted. Now your soju is not just right."

What else can I do after leaving for half a trip? I drank too much water and I have three urgent needs.

"We thought of working together. So, look at my wine, do you want to cooperate?"

"Yes. How do you want to cooperate?"

"Depending on how much you invest, I'll give you a share, up to 30%."

"You account for 70%?"

"I provide the skills, and I will take 50%. For the rest, I will ask our clan leader if he wants 10%. There is also the Qing Gang, which cannot be left out. The plan is to give him 10%. If they don't want it, we will divide it again."

In this share ratio, Li Xiaohan has 50%, the Li clan has 10%, the Green Gang has 10%, and Zhang Fu has 30%. Therefore, Li Xiaohan has the greatest say in the management of the winery, and everyone else has united to oppose her. Only then can we have a tie with her.

However, the place where the winery was built belongs to the Li family, and the people are of course also members of the Li family. Naturally, they are of the same faction as Li Xiaohan, and Li Xiaohan has absolute ownership rights.

"We, the Li family, are responsible for the raw materials and brewing of peppers. You and the Qing Gang are responsible for the purchase and sales of raw wine. However, I suggest that you separate your routes to avoid a fight."

It doesn't matter if she's a little weird. She can't be ignored by Zhang Fu and the Qing Gang.

Everyone has taken it into consideration, and everyone controls each other.

"Sure. I have no problem."

"Then please invite Gang Leader Qing." Li Xiaohan said, "Please Qingzhu send someone to run errands."

When the Qing Gang heard Li Xiaohan say that he wanted to invite some pepper wine, they came very quickly. When they stepped into the hall, they first saw Li Xiaohan and Zhang Fu sitting together, their eyes shrinking slightly. People like them who are half black and half white, and official people like Zhang Fu, are born with a bit of trouble to deal with.

"Gang Leader Ye, I invited you here. I have something to tell you." Li Xiaohan smiled, picked up the small wine pot from the charcoal stove and poured a small glass of wine for Gang Leader Qing, "But where Before that, let me buy you a drink to cool off."

It was cold, so Qingzhu sent someone to light a small charcoal stove. Warming wine and enjoying the snow was also a unique experience.

Gang Leader Ye picked up the lukewarm wine and drank it in one gulp. A warm and slightly spicy feeling fell from his throat, flowing from his heart to his limbs.

"Good wine."

Since it is good wine, there is no problem with business. Qinggang has changed its path with the help of pepper wine. What has always been most worrying is the production problem. Now that there is an opportunity, it will naturally not retreat.

Besides, in this share ratio, as long as the Green Gang stands with Li Xiaohan, it will have nothing to fear from Zhang Fu.

The three of them went on to talk about some details, such as the initial investment, the distribution and management of the wine, etc. They just asked, "Why are the soju tails left in various taverns in Fucheng? Although the quality of the soju tails is slightly poor, it is not without profits. According to five and Erqi Wurba one"

"If we don't do it right, our wine will definitely have a big impact on Fucheng's wine industry. It's always necessary to give those who make a living from wine a breath of air."

Li Xiaohan spoke very lightly, as if he was just talking about an ordinary thing, done casually and of no importance.

It's just that the two men here are sensitive and know that this matter does not need to be discussed anymore and cannot be changed.

That being the case, let's move on to the next item.

The matter was discussed very smoothly, and only the specific location and manpower issues of the winery remained, which had to be discussed back to Pingshan Village.

"I have a relatively personal matter. I want to trouble you two. I need to borrow your power to shock some people." Li Xiaohan said embarrassedly.

"Who?" Leader Qing asked in confusion. Do they need both of them to shock? It's better to do it directly.

"My grandfather and my cousin. As you know, my mother gave birth to a sister who is very lovable. It's just that some people inevitably have some thoughts and want to take care of the family business for me. I can't understand. It's a fact that the two families have been separated. I'm going back to Pingshan Village, and I don't like to cause any extra trouble." Li Xiaohan said.

My cousin is nothing to be afraid of, but my grandfather is really troublesome. After all, he has the word "filial piety" on top of him, and it's not easy to kill him directly.

Zhang Fu and Gang Leader Ye frowned at the same time. In this case, gravity would have to fall.

=== Chapter === 97

Li Xiaohan went home earlier than usual today, and Li Xiandong went out. In the main room, Mrs. Wang was teasing Li Xiaoshuang, who was wrapped in a ball, with a yellow cloth tiger.

Mrs. Wang has done well this month. She is a little plumper and more colorful than before giving birth. After giving birth to a child, she looks like she is a few years younger. You can tell at a glance that she is living a good life.

And Li Xiaoshuang has lost the skinny wrinkles she had when she was just born, her face is white and tender, and her dancing hands are as tender as fat lotus roots, making people want to touch them.

"Why are you back so early today?" Wang asked in confusion when she saw Li Xiaohan pushing open the door and coming in.

In the past, Li Xiaohan would come back later, so around that time, Wang would hide back in the house, avoiding Zhang Fu who always came to say hello after seeing someone off, leaving Li Xiandong to deal with it alone.

Li Xiandong happened not to be at home today. It would be rude to hide again, so Wang could only bite the bullet and prepare to sit with him for a while.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Wang looked outside and saw that Mr. Zhang was not there. She was inexplicably relieved.

"I finished handling the matters today, so I came back a little early. Mom, don't look, Mr. Zhang didn't come today." Li Xiaohan walked aside, poured out the water that was warmed by the kang, and washed his hands before touching them. Li Xiaoshuang's face, "Xiaoshuang, Xiaoshuang, did you miss your sister today?"

The doll has grown bigger and looks better, and Li Xiaohan is also interested in playing with it.

The little baby is so fun, how can he be bullied by someone other than himself?

Mrs. Wang was slightly embarrassed by her daughter's thoughts, so she changed the subject and said, "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?"

"It's okay, let's wait until dinner." Li Xiaohan was still teasing Li Xiaoshuang and said nonchalantly.

It's okay, that is, not full, but not so hungry that I can't accept it.

"Aunt He, Aunt He, is the soup ready in the kitchen? When the girl comes back, give her a bowl to cushion her stomach." Mrs. Wang called into the kitchen.

"Okay, wait a minute, girl, I'll serve it to you right away." Aunt He responded loudly in the kitchen.

Speaking of which, when I asked Aunt He to come here, I originally agreed to help Wang during her confinement period. Later, things changed. Li Xiaohan had to stay in Fucheng if he had something to do. Li Xiandong traveled to Fucheng and Hepingshan Village from time to time. , so he added money to ask Aunt He to come over at night. Finally, Mrs. Wang was in confinement, Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan were still busy every day, and Aunt He continued to stay here to work.

Aunt He is naturally willing. There are three members of the Li family. Occasionally, the village girl Hehua and Brother Da Zhuang come to visit, so they don't have much to do.

Aunt He is responsible for the kitchen work, helps wash diapers, and helps take care of the baby, and she can get a generous salary. This job is much easier than taking care of the whole family.

I am serving a family of young and old at home, I don't have half a penny, and I still complain.

The wages I get now subsidize half of the family every day. The two daughters-in-law at home are much more relaxed. Sometimes they bring some snacks back, and the grandchildren are so happy that they are kissed by their grandmothers. , The old man who used to curse no longer spoke softly, and his son did not say that he worked hard to make money to support the family.

After more than half her life, Aunt He has only now tasted the feeling of straightening her back. The sporadic work she did in the past cannot be compared with what she does now.

In addition to good wages and a harmonious family, another benefit of living in the Li family is that you can learn crafts.

Aunt He said that she had also worked as a helper in the city for several years. Although she was a handyman doing laundry and lighting fires, she also considered herself to be somewhat knowledgeable. She had never seen someone like the Li family. A person who can eat well.

Just like this moment, Miss Li said that autumn and winter should be supplemented, so the family's diet became more refined.

To make this soup today, I put half a chicken and a pig belly, washed them clean, then added red dates, wolfberry, ginkgo pepper, and simmered over low heat until the soup was white and fragrant. Take a sip, with the aroma of pepper and ginkgo, the sweetness of red dates and wolfberry, and the freshness of chicken and pork, it makes people want to swallow it.

As for why Aunt He is so clear, it's because Aunt He has been eating along with her.

From the time Aunt He came to help until now, there has been no difference in food. Aunt He feels that her body, which suffered losses when she was young, has improved a bit. This autumn and winter, she no longer feels weak and cold like in previous years. .

Satisfied with the working environment of the Li family, Aunt He worked even harder. She has reached this age and can still do hard work for a few more years. Taking advantage of the fact that her master is willing to teach her, she can learn some cooking skills and it will be easier in the future.

However, Aunt He was just about to continue working with Mr. Li for a long time. Before she turned around and returned to the kitchen, she heard the girl say to the mistress, "Mom, I'm done with things in Fucheng now. Winter is here. We It's time to go back."

Aunt He felt as if she had been struck by lightning. After a pause, she heard Wang's voice say, "Yes, it's almost the twelfth lunar month before I know it. Xiaoshuang has been full moon for a long time, so it's time to go back."

Aunt He was even more desperate.

Li Xiaohan and Wang didn't know what Aunt He was thinking, and the two mother and daughter discussed going home. Although life in Fucheng was good, Pingshan Village was their roots.

Especially when Mrs. Wang thought that the Chinese New Year was coming soon, she had not prepared anything at home: all kinds of sauerkraut had not been pickled, bacon had not been pickled, and the persimmons and fruits for the New Year had not been prepared at home... Thinking about it this way, Ms. Wang couldn't wait to get home right away.

Just as he was talking, Li Xiandong also came back, and he also brought back a fresh fish. This is good in Fucheng. Occasionally, you can see people returning to the city from outside bringing all kinds of fresh goods, which only cost a small price. , you can buy this convenience.

"Aunt He, let's raise it for one day first, and we'll make fish ball soup the day after tomorrow." Li Xiaohan said.

Aunt He took the fish absentmindedly. The fish ball soup is so delicious. For such a big Anhui fish, take out the fish fillets, chop them into minced meat and make them into meatballs. Fry the fish bones first until they are a little burnt on both sides, heat the water to make soup, add the fish meatballs, and finally add a little Chopped green onion and wolfberry, the final finished soup is white with green chopped green onion and red wolfberry floating in it, which makes people appetizing just by looking at it. Fish and sheep are fresh, and the word "fish and fresh" accounts for half of it.

But at this moment, Aunt He felt even more sad when she thought that such fresh fish would be her last meal.

"What's wrong with Aunt He?" Li Xiaohan asked in a low voice.

"I don't know. I'll ask her later and tell her the news about going home. I agreed at the beginning that I wouldn't have to work, but I told her three days in advance that now I have to leave in a hurry, so I can only give her money. ." Wang said heartbrokenly. Nowadays, most of the people in this family are organized by Wang.

"Sure." When Wang said this, Li Xiaohan stopped worrying and turned to Li Xiandong to talk about finishing his work and going back to Pingshan Village.

"It's done." A smile appeared on Li Xiandong's simple face. Living in the city was good, but it was inconvenient. He always thought about the crops in the village. If he didn't watch them every day, he would feel uneasy.

"Since we are getting ready to go back, we have to tidy up. After nearly two months in Fucheng, we have bought a lot of things, so we need to take care of them." Li Xiandong said, "It's not the coldest time yet." , it's better to go back early."

"Can't the oxcart carry all the goods in one trip?" Wang said worriedly.

"It's okay, I'll just ask Da Zhuang to run with him." Li Xiandong came up with a solution.

"No, it's cold now. The bullock cart is not covered. No matter how tightly it is wrapped, I'm still afraid of getting cold. I asked someone to help, and then we will take the carriage home." Li Xiaohan interrupted.

"You paid for someone, is it expensive? It's okay. I can do it with a big quilt and Xiao Shuang in my arms." Wang said hesitantly as she didn't know how much it would cost to hire a carriage in Fucheng.

"I invited Young Master Zhang and Gang Leader Qing, but they didn't ask for money." Li Xiaohan drank the last sip of soup and smiled with a row of small white teeth.

Li Xiandong and Wang looked at each other silently and were speechless.

If they really need to pay, they won't be able to afford it.

Li Xiaohan ignored Li Xiandong and Wang's speechlessness, raised his head and made another suggestion, "Dad, you can take a look at Xiaoshuang tomorrow. My mother and I will go out for a walk. It's rare for me to come to Fucheng. I haven't been shopping much. Besides, it's almost the Chinese New Year, so I'll just grab a few feet of flowers and arrange something to go home for the Chinese New Year."

"Sure." Li Xiandong nodded and responded. He had lived in Fucheng for nearly two months. The ladies in Fucheng were indeed better dressed than in the village. He didn't know what to buy, so he left them to themselves. Go shopping, "Buy something good."

"Hey." Li Xiaohan smiled and narrowed his eyes.

"I...I don't know what to buy." Wang was timid, but also filled with faint expectation and excitement.

"It's okay, Mom, I know, just follow me." Li Xiaohan comforted her.

Sure enough, after hearing these words, Wang's heart settled down.

After the discussion, Aunt He also served dinner. While eating, the family and Meimei discussed what to take home. The main reason was that Li Xiaoshuang had a lot of things, so this was what she had to bring, and the rest could be fine. If you stay in Fucheng, Li Xiandong or Li Xiaohan will have to come to Fucheng from time to time anyway, so it will be convenient to come over then.

Early the next morning, Wang got up early, packed everything, and followed Li Xiaohan out. As soon as he went out, Li Xiaohan went straight to the largest clothing store in Fucheng.

When Mrs. Wang saw the grand door and the colorful scene inside, she couldn't help but want to retreat, but Li Xiaohan didn't let her retreat at all, and secretly dragged Mrs. Wang inside.

"Hello, madam, girl, what do you need to buy?" Seeing Li Xiaohan and Wang, a female clerk of about thirty years old from a tailor shop came up to them.

Li Xiaohan's eyes wandered around the red, green, and yellow sample clothes on display in the store. He pointed at several sets of clothes in the air and said, "This set, this set, and this set, does my mother have any?" Ready-made clothes for your size? We want ready-made clothes."

The clerk suddenly smiled even more happily. This was a real customer in need. He didn't even need a ruler. The clerk just measured Wang's size with his eyes. "Of course, Madam. It's just the right size, I'll take it off and show it to Madam."

After saying that, he immediately took off the sets of clothes that Li Xiaohan pointed to. One set even changed the size, and put it on Wang's body. It really made Wang's face look much better. It shines brightly again.

The waiter also patiently introduced that this is the best fine cotton fabric newly produced in Jiangnan. The embroidery on the clothes was done stitch by stitch by a professional embroiderer. It is the most popular style in Fucheng this year. Li Xiaohan just nodded. "How much?"

"A set of 600 yuan." The man quoted with a smile.

As soon as these words came out, Wang, who was trying on clothes, was startled. She waved her hands and just wanted to refuse, but Li Xiaohan said, "Mom, we come to Fucheng, we can't go back in despair. Still. It's too late for Xiaoshuang's full moon wine. We have to dress well. It's too late for you to buy fabrics now. I've made money for your daughter, so you can enjoy the blessings of being a daughter. ."

"Yes, madam, it is the girl who is very filial. It is a rare happy event, and it is more dignified and honorable to wear good clothes. The clothes in our store should be carefully kept and they will be in good condition for several years. . The eldest girl is getting older too. When the time comes for her to look like a hairdresser, you won't be able to have a body or clothes." The man was worthy of being of the same age, and the words suddenly struck Wang's heart.

Mrs. Wang was very hesitant after being told that, Li Xiaohan struck while the iron was hot and said, "Wrap this set and this set for me."

Before Mrs. Wang could refuse and said she only wanted one set, the clerk had already folded the clothes very quickly, "Hey, okay, girl. Madam, you are so lucky to have given birth to such a filial daughter."

Mrs. Wang didn't know what to say for a moment. Her daughter was indeed filial, but the price was also expensive. At this time, Li Xiaohan said again, "Mom, please help me take a look. I will also buy two sets." .What color do you think is best to buy?"

When Wang heard this, she stopped worrying and turned her attention to buying clothes for Li Xiaohan, "Then buy red ones. You usually wear goose yellow and willow green ones. Try the red ones. They look so good."

"Okay, man, bring me a few sets of red ones."

"Hey, girl, wait a minute." The waiter said, looking Li Xiaohan up and down a few times, and then brought several sets of red clothes for Li Xiaohan to choose from.

The clothes the waiter brought over were naturally excellent. The colors, styles, and patterns all looked young, lively, and pretty. Ms. Wang liked every outfit so much. She looked over Li Xiaohan's clothes and it was really hard to choose. At this time, she no longer thought it was expensive, she just wanted to buy every piece. It was Li Xiaohan who chose two sets that he liked, so Wang gave up.

After the mother and daughter finished choosing, they chose a bright red quilt for Li Xiaoshuang. The silver-red surface was embroidered with various patterns of small gourds and peaches, which was interesting and beautiful.

In the end, he even thought about buying two clothes for Li Xiandong. Wang was naturally familiar with Li Xiandong's stature, and the waiter knew it with just a gesture.

After happily choosing clothes and settling the bill, the store manager happily gave them a very favorable discount. I heard that they had children at home, and they also recommended half a piece of very fine and soft cotton cloth as diapers - diapers for children are very expensive. .

After settling the bill at the clothing store, Li Xiaohan had already dragged Wang into a bank before she could finish the money.

If the ready-made clothing shop is something that Wang has dared to think about, then the silver building is something that Wang has never thought about. When she walked into the silver building, Wang wanted to shrink down.

"Miss Li, welcome to our store. How can I help you?" The shopkeeper came out and greeted.

"Do you recognize me?" Li Xiaohan asked doubtfully.

"I like that sip of pepper wine, so of course I know Miss Li." The shopkeeper said with a smile.

You know Fanjiao Wine, but you don't necessarily know yourself. Is it someone you know from the Qing Gang or Tongfu Restaurant? Li Xiaohan narrowed his eyes, and the shopkeeper smiled, but he couldn't see what the relationship was.

Forget it, she is here to consume today, not to check things. "Bring me some suitable silver noodles for my mother, and a pair of children's bracelets for me."

"I don't want it, I'll buy it for you." Wang pulled Li Xiaohan's sleeve and said quietly but firmly.

"Oh, give me some too." Li Xiaohan said to the shopkeeper.

"I don't want it, I can just buy it for you." Ms. Wang flatly refused. At her age, she didn't need all these expenses. Li Xiaohan was about to have haircuts after the Chinese New Year, so buying a set was OK.

"Mom, think about it, you keep the silver at home and you keep the silver jewelry made into it. Aren't they all the same? Besides, when the time comes, I will have a head full of jewelry and you will be naked and have nothing. What will happen to you? Are you talking about me?" Li Xiaohan persuaded in a low voice, "Mom, I have money and I want to buy it."

In fact, Li Xiaohan really didn't lack the money. Although a house in Fucheng took away most of Li Xiaohan's savings, she was not idle in the next two months. The supply of pepper wine was never cut off. , as well as the share of the pepper base, and although she teaches white wax for free, the price she charges for alcohol is not low.

After adding and subtracting, she was busy all day in Fucheng and had basically no place to spend money, so she saved another sum.

In fact, it is enough for Li Xiaohan to buy gold jewelry, but in Pingshan Village, silver jewelry is the envy of the villagers, and gold jewelry is still too much to show off, which can easily make people crazy. It's better to keep a low profile.

When Mrs. Wang heard what Li Xiaohan said, she was in a dilemma. If she didn't wear silver jewelry, it would be difficult for Li Xiaohan to wear it. If Li Xiaohan refused to wear it, Wang would be reluctant to give it up, "Is this silver jewelry really the same as silver?"

"Of course, this is made with silver, but I only charge some labor fees." Li Xiaohan said to Wang. As for the labor fees, there is no need to say for the time being.

"Sure, let's buy it." Wang made up her mind. She has already thought of a solution. She can leave the jewelry to Li Xiaohan as a dowry. Anyway, silver jewelry is also silver, that is, money.

The shopkeeper pretended not to be able to see the whispers between the two mothers and daughters. Seeing them nodding, he stretched out his hand to lead the two into the elegant room, "Miss Li, Mrs. Li, please come this way. The jewelry in our silver shop is the most complete and the most beautiful in the city." That's it, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Li Xiaohan and Wang followed the shopkeeper in and sat at a rather elegant small table. The shopkeeper ordered the waiter to bring over two sets of noodles.

Only then did Li Xiaohan realize that there were so many tricks in ancient times. Li Xiaohan was dazzled by a whole set of hairstyles including provocative, distracting, full crown, top hairpin, sideburn cover, sideburn hairpin, etc.

Fortunately, such a complete set of jewelry is not something ordinary people wear. The shopkeeper explained it clearly in detail. Li Xiaohan chose a chrysanthemum-shaped centerpiece for Wang. This can be worn during the New Year and the festival. , and chose the two cloud-patterned sideburns and plum blossom hairpins that I usually wear. As for Li Xiaohan, he chose more youthful and lively sidebands, plum blossoms and cordyceps hairpins, and a pair of round bell bracelets for Li Xiaoshuang.

At the end of the checkout, Ms. Wang didn't even dare to look at the price.

When I came out of the silver building, I was holding a jewelry box, and I didn't dare to go shopping anymore. The money was like running water, which was so frightening.

"Xiaohan, let's go back." Wang said tremblingly.

"Okay." Li Xiaohan said, since he had already bought all the things he needed to buy. "Let's call a bullock cart. After all, we have something with us."

Mrs. Wang had no objection, as long as she could get home quickly. As for the money for the oxcart, she had spent so much today that she didn't care about that little money.

The bullock cart carried the two of them back to Gumen Alley. It was already noon. Aunt He had prepared lunch. The mother and daughter put down their things and washed their hands before eating.

After dinner, Aunt He served the fruit, gritted her teeth and asked, "Girl, when you go back to the village, do you want to hire someone else? If you hire someone again, hire me. I'm willing to follow you." Let's go to the village, and I'll come back when the second girl is older."

Aunt He really wanted to continue to learn this cooking skill. Miss Li was so generous with her guidance, and she also saw that in this family, the eldest girl was the one who could talk. He is also someone who is willing to spend money.

"You don't have to go back home?" Li Xiaohan asked in surprise.

"My son and daughter-in-law are all grown up, so they don't need me. I can go out to work and share some of the work with them. I just need to come back and visit once a month." She told her family about this idea last night. , but the family had no objection.

"That's it." Li Xiaohan thought about it. In the past, it was not convenient for Aunt He to make wine at home. She had a lot of things at home, but since they built a winery, then let Aunt He live with them. It doesn't matter anymore. And now that Li Xiaoshuang is still young and she and Li Xiandong are busy, Aunt He is willing to go with her, which really saves a lot of things.

After thinking for a long time, Li Xiaohan said, "Dad, Mom, I think it's OK. Let Aunt He take care of Xiaoshuang when the time comes. Mom, please step out and give me a hand."

When it comes to asking Aunt He to help Wang with work and raising the baby, Wang is not willing to spend the money, but when it comes to asking Aunt He to take care of Li Xiaoshuang and Wang helping Li Xiaohan, neither Wang nor Li Xiandong have any objections. .

"Sure. It's all up to you." Wang and Li Xiandong looked at each other and said.

"In that case, Aunt He, please go back and pack your things in the afternoon and explain to your family. We will set off tomorrow morning. If you want to regret it before this time, it's okay. The salary will be as much as now. If you get three days' wages, we will give you four days of vacation to go home every month. When you want to take a break, just tell us in advance. Do you think this is okay?" Li Xiaohan asked.

"Hey, thank you, girl, it worked." Aunt He smiled broadly.

I didn't expect that it would be so good to have four days off every month, and I could negotiate it by myself, so what's there to be dissatisfied about? She had known it for a long time. Miss Hehua and brother Da Zhuang came up from Pingshan Village in more than an hour, which was not a long distance. If anything happens at home then, she can just tell the girl to come back after vacation.

After getting the desired result, Aunt He went down to pack her things with a smile.

Wang and Li Xiaohan returned to the room and first talked about Aunt He.

"I asked her yesterday. Aunt He was hesitant at the time. I guess she had an idea by then." Wang said.

"After we have gotten along these days, Aunt He is also a hard-working person. Let Aunt He do the work first. We really don't have enough hands in the family. Aunt He helps take care of Xiaoshuang. Mom, you can also lend a hand. I'll help." Li Xiaohan said.

Although Aunt He's initiative to come to their house to help was unexpected, it is not incomprehensible. It does not mean that all people in the city are wealthy, and every household has its own scriptures that are difficult to recite.

The matter was settled like this, and Li Xiaohan and Wang showed Li Xiandong today's results.

"It looks good, it all looks good." Li Xiandong said with a smile and kept nodding.

Li Xiaohan was also happy. He packed his things carefully and said to Wang and Li Xiandong, "Tomorrow, we will dress up and go home. This is called returning home in fine clothes."

Li Xiandong and Wang didn't understand the concept of returning home in fine clothes, but they still understood the meaning.

Early the next morning, Li Xiaohan's family of four, including the infant Li Xiaoshuang, looked brand new.

At this time, when the time agreed upon by Li Xiaohan, Zhang Fu and Qing Gang leader came, things had been packed, and there was a knock on the door.

"Wow." Li Xiaohan opened the door and exclaimed softly.

Outside the door, a train of horses almost blocked the entrance of the alley. In the middle was a very large carriage, low-key, luxurious and connotative.

In addition to the carriage, Zhang Fu led a team of people to follow him. Perhaps considering the situation of Li Xiaohan's family, Zhang Fu did not have any fancy clothes, but only wore moon-white clothes, which made him appear to be a noble man in troubled times. .

Behind Zhang Fu, a line of guards led by Qingzhu were riding on horses. They were dressed in uniform uniforms and the formation was strict. At first glance, they looked like well-trained elites, which made people dare not look directly at them.

On the other side, the leader of the Green Gang was dressed in soap clothes, and he was followed by more than a dozen people. They were not wearing uniform clothes, and some of them were even crooked and out of shape, but they all had " Not easy to mess with.

Seeing Li Xiaohan open the door and come out, the people on both sides couldn't help but stand upright.

For some reason, Li Xiaohan suddenly wanted to wave his hands and say, "Thank you for your hard work."

"I'm really honored. Thank you all." Li Xiaohan said with a smile.

After returning home with this attitude, no one in Pingshan Village dared to make irresponsible remarks about him anymore.

=== Chapter === 98

On the first day of December in the twenty-fourth year of Taihe, the wind stopped and the snow stopped, and the sky and the earth became cold.

In Pingshan Village, the clan leader is calculating the income and expenditure for this year. The weather is good, the fruit and wood harvests on the clan's common land are good, and the eucommia bark continues to generate income. The orphans and children in the clan can get more rice for the New Year this year, and the clan's school can also renovate the tiles.

Of course, with more income comes more expenses. The information Li Xiaohan asked someone to bring back was not cheap. However, Li Deyou has been asked to take someone to copy it. If there is another scholar in the family next year, it will be worth the money.

Patriarch Li was thinking about it when he suddenly saw Li Shudun, a member of the clan, running in rolling and crawling. Before anyone arrived, he called out: "Chief, Chief, it's not good."

"What's going on? You're making such a fuss." The patriarch put down his pen and said with a frown.

In winter, there was insufficient light in the study, so Patriarch Li always wrote in the main room. The rest of the family had a tacit agreement not to disturb Patriarch Li, so Li Shudun ran all the way to the patriarch.

"Patriarch, it's not good. I just left the village and saw two groups of people coming towards our Pingshan Village with fierce looks." Li Shudun gasped.

"What? Did you see it wrong? Is it a passerby?" Patriarch Li stood up and asked anxiously.

"Patriarch, I'm absolutely right. They are all riding tall horses. They look very ferocious and scary." Li Shudun explained.

"Are you a passing nobleman who can ride a horse?" Patriarch Li asked with a frown.

"Patriarch, I also hope to be a noble person, and I also want to be the second Li Xiandong. But think about it, the weather is so good today, and it is not like Li Xiandong's sudden ice and snow day last year. "I'm so angry, how could the noble man get lost and come to our village? If you're passing by, we don't have easy access to anywhere." Li Shudun explained rationally.

"Are you really right?" Patriarch Li was already convinced.

"Absolutely not. I swear, these people look like they are not easy to mess with. They seem to be looking for trouble. There are no noble people like this, and they are not serious noble people." Li Shudun raised his hand and swore with his right hand.

"Where were they when you saw them?"

"We're almost at the corner on the mountainside at the entrance of the village. I was collecting firewood on the mountain. As soon as I saw you, I ran back to you without even taking the firewood I picked up."

Patriarch Li frowned even more tightly. If it is true that the person who came here is evil, it is already too late to investigate now.

Within a moment, Patriarch Li immediately made a decision, "Blow the gong and summon people."

It is better to believe that it exists than to believe that it does not exist. Now is the time of autumn and winter. If the bandits in the mountains cannot survive, they may come out to look for food.

"Qiang, Qiang Qiang Qiang!"

"Qiang, Qiang Qiang Qiang!"

"Qiang, Qiang Qiang Qiang!"

"Qiang, Qiang Qiang Qiang!"

The rapid sound of gongs sounded over Pingshan Village. For a moment, those who were pulling vegetables, feeding cattle, clearing snow, and eating all stopped in the village.

"The gong is ringing. What's going on?"

"It was a sharp sound, and then three consecutive sounds. Four times in a row."

"It's a bandit, it's a bandit." The older man immediately remembered it and shouted repeatedly, "Quick, quick, quick. Women and children hide. Men copy the guys."

"Quick, quick, quick, the bandits are coming. The women and children are hiding. The men are raping the guys."

Suddenly, the quiet and peaceful Pingshan Village started to move: the woman picked up the child next to her and started looking for a place to hide; the man opened the woodshed and went straight to the largest woodcutter, axe, and hoe; Some dolls playing outside were picked up by adults who rushed out of the house and stuffed into hidden haystacks. At this time, it was no longer important to care whose baby they were, just stuff them when they saw them.

Some little babies were ignorant and would cry when they opened their mouths. The adults covered them and said, "Don't cry, the tiger from the mountain is coming down. If you cry again, I will snatch you away." Each and every little baby was frightened. There were tears in my eyes, and I didn't dare to cry anymore.

The men in the village are like running water, running out from every house and converging at the entrance of the village.

The younger ones had a look of panic on their faces, but the older ones were relatively calm.

"Village Chief, Village Chief, what's going on?"

"Shudun said that he saw a group of men and horses from a distance. They were strong and powerful, and they were coming towards our village." The patriarch said with a frown.

"It's cold in winter, so it's not surprising that robbers from the mountains come down from the mountains. Besides, I heard that there is no peace over the border this year. Anything is possible." The third uncle analyzed.

"I think so too. I would rather believe that it exists than not believe that it doesn't exist. If it is true, we cannot afford to lose." The clan leader said seriously.

"Yeah. It's up to you." The third uncle nodded.

"Hide. Follow orders."

The clan leader waved his hand, and the big men who followed the clan leader in worshiping ancestors and sweeping tombs on weekdays immediately took people to hide in the corner of the broken wall, among the trees, and by the abandoned ditch. Even the clan leader and his third uncle hid. We arrived at a shabby wall. At first glance, this shabby land at the entrance of the village actually contains so many places where people can hide.

After a while, Pingshan Village looked like that ordinary small mountain village again, except it was a little quieter. There were no children crying or adults talking and laughing. .

About a quarter of an hour later, two columns of people came out from the corner of Cuntou Mountain. One column was uniformly dressed in fine clothes, and the other was a miscellaneous one. The same thing is that these two columns People do seem to be very difficult to mess with.

"The patriarch, the third uncle, they are the ones, I read it right." Li Shudun explained in a low voice.

Patriarch Li and his third uncle exchanged glances, and their brows furrowed even more tightly: These people have a very strong blood evil spirit.

There were more and more people in the team in front, and slowly, a car frame followed in the middle, revealing its true appearance.

Hey, wait, wait, bullock cart?

Hey, this cow looks familiar?

"Clan leader, third uncle, this seems to be Xiandong." Li Shengyi quietly ran over from behind and said.

"It does seem to be Xian Dong's cow." Another person next to him added.

"Have you been kidnapped?"

"It doesn't look like it. Xiandong is driving an ox."

"Another carriage is coming out."

"This carriage is not from our village."

"The carriage curtain was opened. Ah, it's Xiaohan. Xiaohan stuck her head out. She talked to the person next to her. What did she say?"

It didn't matter what he said. Anyway, everyone looked at it. The people on both sides, one in black and one in white, stopped and lowered their heads to speak to him. More importantly, the clan leader recognized them. Those two people were obviously. Second Young Master Zhang and Gang Leader Ye.

"Go away, you can't even see clearly who that is." Patriarch Li kicked Li Shudun aside, only to knock Li Shudun unsteady, "That's a distinguished guest."

"Pass it down and withdraw quietly. It's a guest." Patriarch Li sighed, a false alarm. It would be embarrassing to hide it any longer, and it would be embarrassing to speak out.

"Let's go out and see what's going on." The clan leader continued. He didn't know what Li Xiaohan had brought back with these people. He almost misunderstood.

Several people followed the clan leader out from behind the broken wall. The queues on both sides in front of them had gradually slowed down. Li Xiandong drove the bullock cart and took the lead. Seeing the clan leader Li and others, he asked anxiously, "Patriarch, clan leader, I just I heard from a distance what sounded like four gongs, what happened?"

Patriarch Li choked and almost vomited out a mouthful of old blood. "It's winter. I have nothing to do. I will take the young people in the village to practice, so as not to be touched by others without knowing it at the door of the house."

Before Li Xiandong could continue to ask, Patriarch Li dropped the topic, "Xiandong, are you going home? Why did you bring so many people?"

Li Xiandong was relieved when he heard that it was a drill in the village. He replied with a smile: "My mother has finished her confinement. She is small and is afraid of being cold on the road, so Xiaohan invited Mr. Zhang to send him off in a carriage." Let's go home. Leader Ye, here, also come and take a look."

The faces of Patriarch Li and the third uncle behind him froze. Who would believe this reason? Is this to send someone home? This is to establish his authority.

I really can't say a word.

Fortunately, at this time, Zhang Fu and Qing Gang leader also dismounted. They both clasped their fists and said, "Clan leader Li, third uncle, I'm here uninvited. I'm really sorry for bothering you."

Both of them are smart people, so they naturally understand that there may be some misunderstanding between the two parties. Although I wanted to be shocked, I didn't expect to mobilize troops and mobilize people like this.

At this time, the carriage behind had also arrived in front. Li Xiaohan poked her head out of the carriage, as if she was not the one who made the suggestion in the first place, and said with a smile, "Chief, Third Uncle, I have a guest at home. . Come to my house for lunch together, Young Master Zhang and Gang Leader Ye came to our village to discuss a business deal."

Although it was a false alarm, the identities of the two people who came here were too prominent. The second master Zhang had already guessed his identity, and the leader of the Qing gang was also a nobleman who had been helping to carry books. If they wanted to have dinner together, the patriarch and the third uncle must be If you are willing, let alone the business ladder, Patriarch Li followed it and said, "Okay."

Li Xiandong quickly stopped the ox cart and asked the patriarch and his third uncle to get on the cart. Then an ox cart walked at the front, carrying a group of people and horses, and slowly walked towards Li Xiandong's home.

When they entered Pingshan Village, many people who were hiding in the village had already come out, but there were always eyes that were either curious, startled, or evasive, secretly following the group of people.

One of the ignorant children asked, "Mom, is this the tiger coming down from the mountain?"

The child's mother hurriedly covered the little baby's mouth and said hastily, "No, the tiger on the mountain has gone back. This is a guest from the city."

There were also some older children with envious eyes shining as they followed behind and exclaimed, "Wow, what a majestic big horse. When I grow up, I will also wear something like this." Wear clothes, ride on a horse, come home so majestic."

"Me, me, and I, I want to wear the same one too."

It only made Zhang Fu's team straighter and straighter.

Yu Guang, the leader of Ye gang, glanced at Zhang Fu and others, unconvinced.

In fact, it's not just a little baby. There are few young people in the village who don't envy him. Everyone looked eagerly at the group of people, pretending to be passing by by accident, imagining that they were one of them, riding through the wind and snow, enjoying life.

When the motorcade arrived at the door of Li Xiandong's house, the crowd of onlookers, covertly and covertly, arrived. Everyone saw the carriage stopped at the door of Li Xiandong, and then the largest and most luxurious carriage in the middle stopped.

Li Shengli and Chen's family, who came in a hurry, heard that they were not bandits but guests. Now they heard that they were guests of Li Xiandong's family. They just came over and saw Li Xiandong driving an ox cart. The patriarch and third uncle came down first.

Li Shengli was overjoyed and just thought about it. Suddenly, the corner of his clothes was gently pulled by Chen. Li Shengli turned around in displeasure, only to see Chen looking ahead in panic.

Li Shengli turned his head impatiently and saw the wheels of the carriage in the middle being lifted. A middle-aged woman in cotton-padded clothes jumped out first and handed over a footstool.

Then, Li Xiaohan in a light red embroidered cotton robe walked out briskly, with two silver hairpins on his head shining brightly, instantly shining in the eyes of the ladies in the village.

After Li Xiaohan got out of the car, he called into the car, "Mom."

Then another figure dressed in red, this time a red figure came out of the carriage, holding a big red quilt. If Li Xiaohan hadn't called her mother, Li Shengli would have almost not recognized him. Come on, this is my eldest daughter-in-law.

Mrs. Chen, however, stared intently at Ms. Wang's head. On Ms. Wang's head, not only was she inserted a silver hairpin, but she was also decorated with silver hairpins. Ms. Chen would never admit it.

At this moment, mother and daughter Wang stood side by side, as if they were not from Pingshan Village, but nobles from the city.

Li Shengli was in a trance, as if he had seen his first wife who had died long ago. Back then, she fled to Pingshan Village with an old servant, and she was also so magnanimous.

What were you thinking at that time? Li Shengli couldn't remember a little bit, and he just felt that he was not worthy of standing together.

While he was in a trance, he saw Li Xiaohan patrolling around, then he spotted Li Shengli and his group, raised a smile and shouted crisply, "Grandpa, grandma, we are back, come to our house for dinner."

For a moment, Li Shengli felt two sharp eyes looking over him, full of malice and scrutiny, as if every inch of his body had been scraped thousands of times with a knife.

Li Shengli subconsciously raised his head in panic and saw the young man in black and white clothes next to Li Xiaohan looking at him. The face of the young man in white is solemn, with the contempt and impatience of a superior person like an ant, while the young man in black has malicious eyes and even a hint of joking curve in the corner of his mouth.

In an instant, Li Shengli instinctively took a step back, shaking Chen along with him.

Li Shengli heard another crisp and joyful voice, "Grandpa, we have a guest at my house. Come to my house for dinner."

=== Chapter === 99

Mingming's voice was sweet and clear, but Li Shengli sounded so terrifying.

At this moment, Li Shengli understood that Li Xiaohan must have known about it. He also knew that he had talked to Li Xiandong several times about the inheritance. Li Xiandong must have told Li Xiaohan about this, but Li Xiandong has been as stubborn as a stone and refused to agree. This has never happened...

In Li Shengli's heart, Li Xiaohan, the granddaughter, was nothing like her parents. She had refused to suffer losses since she was a child. In the past, when she had not grown up, she could only yell a few words without thinking, which was annoying. After the separation, her wings became stiff and became more and more difficult every time.

Now, Li Shengli understood clearly, she was using this to tell herself not to take any ideas from her family.

For a moment, Li Shengli regretted endlessly. He only hated himself for why he had to tell Li Xiandong about the adoption, and he even hated himself for why he wanted to separate the family. If there had been no separation of the family, I wouldn't have had to do anything, or the old man would have taken advantage of it. Where is it like now, without taking advantage of the slightest advantage, but it is going to cause a fishy smell.

Li Shengli's mind was filled with thoughts, but he didn't make any move.

Li Xiandong also looked over here with complicated eyes.

Li Xiandong once feared, longed for, and struggled with his father, but now that he has seen more, he feels more and more that his father is partial and selfish.

Just like this time, he traveled back and forth between Pingshan Village and Fucheng. Every time he came back, his father told him about adopting Li Xianxi's son.

Yes, that child is still young and ignorant, but he will grow up and understand who is his biological father and mother.

His father always said he planned it for himself, but he never asked him if he wanted it or if he needed it.

He doesn't want to, he doesn't need to. He didn't need the sons of Li Xiannan and Li Xianxi to show him mourning. He didn't want to. When he saw everyone in that family, he remembered being suppressed and excluded in the first half of his life, and the despair at the moment of separation. At that time, was there anyone in that family who regarded him as a relative, or someone who cared about the life and death of his family of three and spoke a word of justice for himself?

Therefore, there were no relatives at that time, and there is no need to talk about relatives now. Let's just interact with each other like ordinary relatives.

It wasn't that Li Xiandong didn't know what Li Xiaohan was doing with Mr. Zhang and Gang Leader Qing coming back. Now she saw that Li Xiaohan specifically asked her grandfather to come for dinner, which made her even more sure.

His daughter is so smart and sensible, she can always guess everything and always think of a solution. What else could he ask for?

His daughter is much more capable than his son.

In the future, when he gets old, he will find a member of the declining clan to adopt him, as long as he is older. He does not have to raise him from a young age. If he is given a little wealth, he will be remembered more favorably by outsiders. There is no need to get married to two daughters. There are two daughters watching, and they are not afraid that the adopted son will not let him and the Wang family throw dishes and fall into mourning.

"Dad, I'm back, let's have dinner together. Come and see my second daughter, you haven't seen her yet." Li Xiandong said bitterly, but also half relieved.

There was something about this opening that seemed like it would never come back.

Li Shengli seemed to feel something, but also seemed not to.

"Xiandong, I'm here for a drink without you. Do you welcome me as your second uncle?" At the critical moment, Li Shengyi bumped Li Shengli forward, and while walking forward with Li Shengli, he spoke loudly. This weird atmosphere.

Li Shengyi is a mature man. Although he doesn't know the details, he can still guess three points. His younger brother was probably confused again. I don't even know what it is. It's just that Li Xiandong gave birth to another daughter and wanted to interfere in his son's family affairs.

How could a son whose family had been separated and who was almost ready to leave home still listen to his father, Li Shengli? I have told this brother a long time ago that if he keeps the money in hand, he will still have two sons left.

It's nothing more than confusion, nothing more than a lack of people's hearts.

Li Shengyi saw clearly, but he had to smooth things over for his younger brother. Otherwise, what else could he do? Both his parents were deceased, so he, the second brother, could not help.

Besides, if the dispute is too tense, it will be bad for everyone. He was not good to Li Shengli, and he was not good to Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan. Some things would easily change when passed down. After all, Li Xiandong and Li Xiaohan were juniors.

"Ah, second uncle, I've been wanting to find you." Li Xiaohan's smile this time was completely sincere, and she even moved forward, walked up to Li Shengyi and Li Shengli and saluted, and then continued He said, "You see, there are so many guests at home, and my father has not been home for a long time. There is nothing in the house to entertain guests. So, I still want to trouble my ex-uncle, and... Brother Jin, Brother Yin and others, it's not rude to help my father trim a pig."

Asking Li Guiqian and Li Guihou to help Li Xiandong is appropriate in terms of seniority. Secondly, I have asked Li Shengyi's opinion first, that is, respect Li Shengyi as a respected elder, which is reasonable in terms of etiquette.

Li Shengyi readily agreed, "Of course there is no problem. It is the right thing for these brothers to help each other."

At this time, Li Xiandong also got off the bullock cart, walked up to him and saluted, "Dad, second uncle. I have a guest at home, so I have to ask my brothers to help me."

"Sure, what does this mean?" Li Shengyi said as he followed Li Xiandong forward, agreeing readily.

At this time, Zhang Fu and Gang Leader Ye also became gentle and polite gentlemen and ordinary guests. They bowed their hands to Li Shengyi and said, "Two old men, I'm sorry for bothering you."

"You're welcome. It's rare to see you two. I'm really happy. There's nothing to entertain you in a rural mountain village. I'll definitely treat you to a simple meal." Li Shengyi said loudly, not timid at all.

There is an illusion that he is Li Xiandong's father.

However, the atmosphere did get better. The clan leader picked out a few young people from the onlookers, helped Li Xiandong lift the things from the bullock cart, and asked someone to lead the bull aside.

Zhang Fu and the people from the Qing Gang also followed the horse to the side. Fortunately, Li Xiandong's home was in a remote area, and there were still empty residential lots around it. People from the Qing Gang often came here to drink, and some of them were very familiar with Pingshan Village. There are also people who are calling people home to give these big horses fodder. They should greet them well so as not to starve these beasts.

"Let's go, let's go in and talk."

So a group of people, Patriarch Li, Third Uncle, Li Shengyi, Li Xiandong, Zhang Fu, Qing Gang leader and others greeted each other and walked into Li's house.

Li Xiaohan and Mrs. Wang followed behind, and Aunt He followed behind with a package.

At this time, Li Xiaoshuang also woke up, looking at everyone with her big black eyes, not crying when seeing so many strangers.

"Mom, later you take Xiaoshuang to the backyard to rest, and you can take care of Xiaoshuang. On the first day when Aunt He came, let her follow me and help me." Li Xiaohan said in a low voice.

"Yes, I understand." Mrs. Wang responded. It had been almost more than an hour, and Li Xiaoshuang should be hungry. She would cry when she was hungry and would poop after eating. A child really cannot be separated from others for a moment.

"Aunt He, follow my mother in first, put your things down, and then come out to find me."

"Hey, big girl." Aunt He followed closely behind Wang.

After entering the house, everything in the house was fine. Mrs. Zhao and others were helping to take care of it. It was like someone was living in the house and taking care of it.

Li Xiandong and a group of men walked to the main room. Zhao, Li Hehua and others knew that Li Xiaohan was back and had been waiting aside for a long time. At this time, they hurriedly walked over and said, "Xiaohan, what do you think we should do?"

Li Xiaohan said with a smile, "Mother Zhao, I am really relieved when I see you. Look at me, there are about thirty people coming back with me. There are four tables in the yard and one in the main room. The main table. I'm preparing it. Just have hot pot today. Hot pot is convenient. This is the bowl and stool. I want to borrow it from the clan. I want to trouble you to arrange it and see how to work. Also. If you need to wash and prepare dishes in the kitchen, please come over first and I will pay according to the price in the city."

"Sure, no problem, you leave it to me." Mrs. Zhao said, there are only thirty people, she feeds and drinks for about ten people in the family every day, even if there are more people, this is what she needs to do Life is pretty much the same.

Besides, they have all eaten the hot pot. Hey, just wash the things and put them in to cook. It is really convenient and delicious.

After Mrs. Zhao finished speaking, she first assigned Mrs. Hua'er to boil water and tea in the kitchen, and then left Mrs. Ye and Mrs. Ma here to help. She went out to gather women to work.

After Zhao left, Li Guiqian and Li Guihou already knew from everyone what his father had promised just now. The two of them went to Li Xiaohan together and said, "Xiaohan, we know about the pig killing."

"I'm sorry to bother you two uncles, but my family doesn't raise pigs. I wonder if the villagers have any?" Li Xiaohan estimated that there should be some. It's not the time to kill the New Year pigs yet. There are so many people in the village. Raise pigs and wait to buy them at a good price during the Chinese New Year.

"What's the matter? I still have three pigs that haven't been killed yet. If you want one, we don't have to go to the butcher." Li Guiqian said, "Where are these pigs killed?"

"At my house, right? Uncle, do you think that's okay?" As for the pig-killing banquet, all you need is an atmosphere. Of course, it's the most fun to kill and eat it now.

"Okay, as long as you don't mind the noise. We won't kill them everywhere. Then let's go."

The two brothers, Li Gui and Li Gui, were ready to go home and tie up the pigs.

"Hehua, are there any ready-made sweet pepper ingredients?" Li Xiaohan asked Li Hehua.

"The ready-made ones may not be enough, but lard, pepper, spices and all these are all available." Li Hehua said.

"Okay, then you go to the backyard and start stir-frying. The base ingredients for four or five tables can be stir-fried quickly. I'll leave it to you."

"It's done, Master." Li Hehua said, and Ye quickly followed up to give him a hand.

Suddenly, the entire front yard of Li's house was in motion, with people coming and going, busy yet orderly. At this time, Hua'er Niang's water was boiling, and Li Xiaohan and Aunt He carried the teapot to pour tea for everyone.

In the main room, the atmosphere is also very harmonious. The patriarch, the third uncle, is presiding over it. Li Xiandong is not very good at talking, so it is okay. Zhang Fu and the leader of the Qing Gang are now pretending to be juniors. When Li Xiaohan arrived, this A table of people was talking about the price of food in Fucheng.

Zhang Fu said that it was because there were disputes over the border, so it was normal for everyone to panic and prepare food, but the Western Tartars were nothing to worry about. The leader of the Qing Gang said that he was not afraid of traveling south and north, and the weather was good everywhere this year; everyone in Pingshan Village In other words, there have been bumper harvests in the past few years. The family has stored grain and so on. After paying taxes, every family is indeed a little rich...

It feels like the people at this table really can't see any difference, and they are so harmonious that they feel like they have been together for many years. Li Xiaohan seemed relieved, and took Aunt He to pour water for everyone, and then went back to work.

Soon, the person carrying the table and stools came in first, followed by several ladies to clean the table. The tables and stools of the Li family are always lent out during festivals and happy events, and they are actually well kept. The Li family's yard is already large, and there is no cover for drying peppers on weekdays. Now it is very spacious for hosting banquets.

Immediately afterwards, the tofu maker at the entrance of the village came in carrying tofu and soaked tofu skin; Dashan came in carrying a load of vegetables. The women took the vegetables, and buckets of clean water were hoisted up from the well platform. The aunt began to wash and scrub.

After a while, someone said loudly, "The pigs are coming."

I saw two brothers, Li Guiqian and Li Guihou, carrying a big fat pig that was tied so tightly that it could no longer scream on a horizontal pole, and carried it to the well platform. The lady who was washing vegetables made way for the pig, and the pig was rinsed clean with ladles of well water.

Li Gui and others made preparations before going to the main room to invite Li Shengyi - there was no other way, the crucial stab was still required by Li Shengyi. There were a lot of people, so Li Shengyi didn't call his son a coward, but said to everyone, "Everyone, I'm sorry, I'm going to kill a pig."

"Let's go and see it together, it's so lively." Unexpectedly, Zhang Fu said, as if he was a noble man who didn't understand killing in the world. For a moment, people forgot that his father and brother were all fighting on the battlefield. figure.

Since Zhang Fu was interested, the group of people moved to the well platform. When they moved, others also gathered around. Suddenly, people formed a circle around the well platform.

I saw Li Shengyi squirting the farewell wine, holding the butcher knife in his hand, and in the blink of an eye, he aimed it at the pig's neck. The white knife went in and the red knife came out, and the bright red blood flowed straight into the basin.

"Okay! Good accuracy, good swordsmanship!" Leader Qing shouted loudly.

Those of them who have ever licked blood with the tip of a knife naturally know that it takes courage to stab someone cleanly with a knife. Unexpectedly, an ordinary old farmer in Pingshan Village would have such courage. You must know that ordinary people would not dare to touch such a big guy unless he was a professional butcher.

The leader of the Green Gang spoke up first, and the people from the Green Gang who were watching naturally cheered and said "Okay, okay, okay."

The atmosphere gradually became high.

Zima Wu, hidden in the crowd, shouted hello, while remembering that he once wanted to rob Li Xiandong's family, a few drops of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. It is true that people should not be judged by their appearance. I would not have thought that this old farmer, who did not look amazing, could kill a pig so neatly with one knife. If Li Xiandong could do the same... what a blessing.

After Li Shengyi killed the pig, he took the rag on the side and wiped his hands. He said with a certain amount of joy and a certain amount of humility, "The Qing gang leader has given me the award. It's just a matter of his eyesight and accuracy."

"What you need is this bit of eyesight, a bit of accuracy." The leader of the Green Gang said seriously. Killing and killing pigs are not the same. What is needed is this bit of eyesight, a bit of accuracy, and the courage between life and death.

Li Shengyi was a little happier and no longer modest. When he was young, he followed his clan to escape from famine. He relied on his courage and accuracy to survive. His sons lived a comfortable life and could not learn this skill. Unexpectedly, he still The leader of the Green Gang, an outsider, won his heart.

Then I saw the leader of the Qing Gang squatting down and looking at the bleeding hole, showing that he was really interested. Intrigued, Li Shengyi knelt down, pointed at the opening and said, "Look, it's right here. The skin is thin and the blood is thick, so you can stab it in with a knife."

"Is this so?" At some point, the leader of the Qing Gang actually got Li Shengyi's butcher knife and stabbed it in along the original opening.

The half-dead pig jumped again after being stabbed by the knife.

The other people watching were also shocked. They didn't expect that this man was so academically motivated in this place, and he was talking about such bloody things with a serious face.

"Yes, it's this position and this strength." Li Shengyi patted Gang Leader Qing on the shoulder, "Gang Leader Ye, you are the best player here."

Li Shengyi said happily, as for the Qing Gang's conspiracy, hey, in the eyes of people like Li Shengyi who escaped from famine, they are still young people. Back then, no one saw a few dead people or had blood on their hands. If you don't smear others' blood, others will smear your blood.

The leader of the Green Gang actually smiled when he was photographed by Li Shengyi, and he looked a little younger. He really looked like a junior. In fact, if you look closely, Gang Leader Ye is not very old, he is probably about the same age as Li Jiajin and Li Jiayin. It's just that this person's identity is sensitive, and he usually doesn't pay attention to his age.

"Gang Leader, OK! OK!" For a moment, everyone in the Qing Gang cheered louder. The people in Pingshan Village came to their senses. They were just killing a pig, but these city people were actually so happy.

Hey, who hasn't killed a few pigs during the Chinese New Year? As for killing others or killing yourself, there is not much difference.

Zhang Fu looked at Gang Leader Qing and smiled gently.

With this episode, the atmosphere became more harmonious. After Li Shengyi killed the pig, the rest was naturally handed over to the younger generations like Li Gui and Li Gui.

Because the leader of the Qing Gang just left the scene, other interested members of the Qing Gang gathered around to watch the pork being opened, and those who were even more interested even came to watch it.

There was also Qingzhu and others. Last year at Li's house, they were used to beating meatballs with slices of meat. At this time, they wanted to eat hot pot. Qingzhu used a kitchen knife to fly and sliced the meat as thin as cicada wings. Another round of applause.

After killing a pig, the scene seemed like a festival.

Not long after, the aroma of the sweet pepper base floated out from the backyard. The aroma was overbearing and mellow, adding a layer of warmth to the cold winter day.

Soon, several large pots were set up in the yard, and dishes were brought out one after another. The pepper base was put down, and the soup base was added. The red, yellow, and yellow colors were rolling around, making people salivate. . Everyone was not particular about it. They held a bowl and sat around the big pot, just waiting for the meal to begin.

The men and horses brought by the Qing Gang and Zhang Fu, although they are now well-dressed and riding tall horses, in fact, when they climbed mountains and waded in rivers and slept in the wilds in the past, they had never tried anything, a bonfire. , sitting on the ground, leaning on half a pancake, watching the cold wind and wild beasts roaring as a meal, I didn't feel at all that this meal was disrespectful.

As for the people who help in Pingshan Village, that's even less so. It's common for them to squat in the fields and eat a meal during busy farming days. Moreover, this is Li Xiandong's home, and they are the masters on the territory of their Li family.

However, in the main room, the main table was more polite, and they served fried dishes. Fortunately, the table where the Li family eats is a round table, otherwise it would be difficult to arrange the position. At this time, I also ignored the status and only sat in order of age and seniority.

"We are here at the invitation of Miss Li. Everyone here is our elders, so let's sit down together with Miss Li." Zhang Fu said with a smile, as if he was not talking about Li Xiaohan sitting with them. Same.

The room was filled with silence.

Not to mention the taboo between men and women, of course now that people's customs are more open, the taboo between men and women is not very strict. It's just that in the Li family, no woman has ever sat at the head table at a banquet. At most, a woman's seat is reserved for accompanying the banquet.

The atmosphere was stagnant for a moment, Zhang Fu smiled like a gentle nobleman, but he did not change his tune.

"What's going on? Is there anything wrong with this meal?" Li Xiaohan stepped into the hall with a smile and asked with a smile.

The Li family's table was very big, and there were not many people around the main table. Li Xiaohan walked over, picked up a chair from the side, and put it next to the table.

Not crowded at all.

It's time to eat. This is her territory, the people she invited, the bureau she organized, why can't she have a seat?

Li Xiaohan put down the chair and continued to say with a smile, "Why don't you sit down? It's cold, hurry up and eat. I said it before inviting Mr. Zhang and Gang Leader Ye to come, and I want to work together in our Pingshan Let's build a pepper winery in the village, and then our family will be able to grow pepper and make wine."

Li Xiaohan taught Li Hehua the secret recipe for the sweet pepper base. These words made everyone in the Li family's hearts mention it.

"I've been so busy this time that I haven't even had time to tell the clan leader and third uncle about this matter."

"Yes. In fact, that's what we came here for." Zhang Fu added with a smile.

These two people seemed to have discussed everything, but they seemed to have never discussed it before. Everything was done by tacit understanding.

"Sit down, sit down." The third uncle sat down first. "If anything happens, we'll talk about it after dinner."

"Yes, Mr. Zhang and Gang Leader Ye come here once in a while to try our craftsmanship." Li Shengyi said.

Not to mention that Jiang is old and spicy, and Fox is old and cunning. The people who reacted fastest were the oldest third uncle and Li Shengyi. Of course, Li Shengli seemed to have only grown older. From the moment he entered Li Xiandong's house, he was like a shadow, and he didn't say much at the moment.

When Third Uncle and Li Shengyi spoke, the others naturally had no other opinions and sat down one after another.

Li Xiaohan sat firmly on the chair, as calm and indifferent as if he had sat there thousands of times.

She is not planning to withdraw from this main table again.

=== Chapter === 100

As Li Xiaohan sat down gently, the hearts of all the men in the Li family at the main table jumped.

It seems like something is different from now on.

But after thinking about it and weighing the left and right, it was Shihui who defeated face in the end - they were all named Li anyway, and in the end they ended up in the Li family, so it was not unacceptable.

Patriarch Li again thought about the time when the family was separated. It had obviously been more than a year. What did Li Xiaohan say at that time? Oh, what he said at that time was, "Patriarch, I will take care of my future family." My brother's fingerprints will be pressed, but if it doesn't work, I'll recruit a son-in-law."

Now that I think about it, what I said that day has a sense of fate. Li Xiandong's family still has no son, but Li Xiaohan does not need to recruit a son-in-law and has already taken the position of a man.

For such a fierce person, I didn't know for a moment whether I should feel regretful that he was not the son of the Li family, or whether I should be glad that she was the daughter of the Li family.

Patriarch Li thought for a moment and glanced at Li Shengli from the corner of his eye. Li Xiaohan, the granddaughter, was much more promising than all the male grandchildren. Thinking about it now, Li Shengli probably regretted today's attitude. Unfortunately, regret is of no use.

Fortunately, I sent my son to build a house for Li Xiandong that day. No, my son was admitted as a scholar and also enrolled in Qingshan Academy. Seeing this, I can give it a try.

Thinking about it this way, Patriarch Li felt that there were many things that he had not paid attention to before. Li Xiaohan's close friend, Li Hehua, is a thirteen-year-old girl who has learned the secret recipe for pepper base and is said to be able to set up a stall on her own. Needless to say, Li Shengyi's family, There are also a few women who make money by picking peppers and drying them every day; the Li Dashan family, and it is said that the Hua'er woman is also remembered because she gave a basket of vegetables to Li Xiandong's family...

I don't know, but it turns out that everyone who made good friends with Li Xiaohan's family on that day benefited more or less!

Isn't this what I, the clan leader, have always hoped for, a capable person who can lead the whole clan forward! I actually ignored it because of a man and woman before.

It doesn't matter whether he is a man or a woman, as long as he is capable.

Thinking of the wine shop I just mentioned, my heart became even more passionate. The reputation of pepper wine is not bad in the city now, and he had drank it that day. If you want to build a winery, you must at least plant more peppers, build a house on a plot of land in the village, and more importantly, recruit some workers. …

The more Patriarch Li thought about it, the more excited he became, and his voice softened a bit, "That's right, let's eat first, and then we can get down to business after eating."

I can't wait to get down to business right away.

The people at the main table knew a lot and had a lot of experience, and they adapted very quickly. However, the other Li clan members who were helping in the yard below were stunned - why, Xiaohan sat down to the main table. It's on the table. This is against the rules of our ancestors.

In fact, it is not just the Li clan members, but the entire environment is like this. The people brought over by Zhang Fu and the Qinggang people also grew up in such an environment, and are more or less not immune to the influence.

For a moment, it seemed that only the bonfire was burning silently.

"Come on, come on, let's eat the food. Let's eat the food. This food is so delicious. In addition to the pepper wine, Miss Li also has the best pepper base. Now that I have eaten this meal at Miss Li's house, I will go back I'm so jealous of my brothers." The first person to speak out was Ma Wu from the Qing Gang.

As the first person to deal with Li Xiaohan's family, Ma Wu had long known that Li Xiaohan was the one calling the shots in the Li family, but now he was just sitting where he should be. They are people who live in the world, they are drunk now, and they don't want to be happy tomorrow. Miss Li can make the brothers of the Green Gang open up the situation and live a good life. She is the person they admire.

It's nothing but a seat at the main table.

As soon as Ma Wu said this, Qingzhu immediately reacted. Thinking about it, he felt guilty. Qingzhu had seen the matter from the beginning to the end. Just because of Bai Wa, all the trade routes in Dingcheng were opened. How much grain and medicinal materials were sent from Jiangnan, and how much things on the front line were eased. What's more, in March of next year, Miss Li taught everyone how to cultivate white wax for free. Such merit is nothing but a seat.

"Yeah, come on, let's eat vegetables. It's a cold day, so it would be perfect to have a meal of hot peppercorns." Qingzhu said.

When these two people spoke out, the Qing Gang's men and Zhang Fu's men were immediately brought to life. There were only a few people from Pingshan Village who came to help the people sitting there. After being led around like this, they finally came to their senses - the patriarch and the third uncle were both there. They had no objections, and naturally they didn't either. have opinions.

After a while, the atmosphere came alive again , and the matter was settled.

Only in the kitchen, the atmosphere was inexplicably quiet.

"Xiaohan has sat at the main table."

I have forgotten who said this first, and then the women couldn't help themselves from looking over there from time to time.

I have lived for most of my life and have never seen a woman sit at the head table on such an occasion.

It turns out that women can also sit at the main table.

Also, why? They take care of the housework inside and work hard outside. Why have they never sat at the main table after working hard for most of their lives?

They also want to sit outside, like those men, sit outside.

There is something, like a devil's seed, quietly buried in the soil of the dark night. I don't know if it will usher in decay or bring about germination.

"What Master can do, will one day I be able to do it too?" Li Hehua felt that she was bold, but she couldn't help but think quietly.

When she entered the backyard for the second time, Aunt He's heart trembled with excitement. She felt that packing her bags and following the eldest girl was the wisest decision she had ever made in her life. "Madam, madam, the eldest lady has sat at the main table."

"What?" Mrs. Wang had just fed Li Xiaoshuang and put her to sleep when she heard Aunt He running in excitedly.

"What did you say?"

"Madam, outside, the eldest girl sat at the main table. She sat at a table with the master, your clan elder, and Mr. Zhang." Aunt He explained with a trembling voice.

"Did you read that correctly?"

"Absolutely not! I promise. I can really see it with my two eyes."

Both of them wanted to lower their voices, but they couldn't help but feel excited. Li Xiaoshuang frowned and pouted, as if she wanted to cry.

Mrs. Wang, who used to be very patient with her little daughter, now patted her little daughter's butt perfunctorily without saying a word, her face was full of contemplation, and finally she slowly showed a smile, "Aunt He, I am... The most amazing thing in my life is giving birth to a daughter like Xiaohan."

It doesn't matter if she doesn't have a son. Her daughter is more powerful than many sons in the world.

God has given such a great blessing, and she is afraid that she will not be able to bear it.

"Madam, you are much more blessed than anyone who has given birth to many sons." Aunt He herself did give birth to two sons, but no matter what, she didn't enjoy the blessing of sons. Instead, she spent the rest of her life caring for her children and grandchildren. Keep working.

Mrs. Wang smiled even brighter, "That's the truth."

This meal at Li Xiandong's house caused big or small waves in the hearts of everyone present, and finally it seemed to calm down calmly. Of course, Li Xiaohan didn't care how many undercurrents remained under the water in the end. Can't catch it

After eating, Aunt He poured tea for everyone at the head table and then left. Li Shengyi and Li Shengli left the scene with a wink - the clan leader and the third uncle could discuss cooperation on behalf of the clan, and they would not be there again. It's not appropriate here.

Li Shengyi took the lead and left, followed by the Li clan. Judging from their looks, the Qinggang people and Zhang Fu's people had been trained. Qingzhu and Ma Wu came up to ask for instructions and then retreated.

The three parties had the friendship of eating together, so they simply went outside together to watch the horses they rode over. This was a good topic and everyone was interested.

The Li family yard has returned to quietness, except for some things that haven't been cleaned up yet, but it doesn't matter. It's important to seize the time to discuss cooperation now, and it's not too late to clean up again in the evening.

Regarding the wine shop, Li Xiaohan, Zhang Fu, and Qing Gang leader have already almost discussed it in Fucheng. The only remaining thing is to seek the opinion of Patriarch Li on the location, people, and the cultivation of pepper raw materials.

Patriarch Li naturally had no objection. With this 10% share, Li Xiaohan was leading the tribe. Otherwise, why would they get the same share as the Qing Gang? How could they farm the land? There are so many old farmers in Dingcheng who don't know how to farm, and others are eager to do so.

"There's no problem." Chief Li and his third uncle looked at each other, nodded slightly, and immediately agreed, "We, the Li family, can allocate a piece of land for our homestead. The soil will soften next spring. After building a winery, we will also arrange for people to grow the raw materials for peppers and sell them to the winery at the agreed price."

This kind of pepper is more than twice as expensive as cotton, so the tribesmen are definitely willing to grow it. Patriarch Li is only worried about clan members competing for crops, not about running out of land.

"Okay. Since that's the case, the last thing left is the issue of manpower. We won't get involved in this. Miss Li, you decide." Zhang Fu said.

It's winter now, so pepper breeding and winery construction have to wait until spring, but manpower training can be prepared in advance.

"The core brewing team will lead six people first. He Hua is my apprentice and will definitely follow me, so I won't count them among them. I want a quota for the six people and give it to my second uncle. You can arrange for the other clan leaders. "

Patriarch Li's lips moved slightly, thinking about how Li Hehua could learn this as an unmarried girl, and what if the secret recipe was leaked.

There is also an invisible quota for Li Hehua, and there is another quota for Li Shengyi, so Li Shengyi and his family occupy two quotas. Is this ratio too large?

However, considering that Li Xiaohan is also a woman, for a while, I couldn't tell anything about Li Hehua. Li Xiaohan has the temperament to protect his own people, and that is why the Li family has this qualification.

That's all, that's all, Li Hehua is only thirteen years old anyway, and Li Xiaohan is one year older than her, so who can say for sure what will happen in the future.

Li Hehua compromised, and the remaining quota was given to Li Shengyi's family. Who would let her marry Li Xiaohan? I haven't seen Li Xiaohan's own grandfather, and I haven't even mentioned it at all.

This capable person also has a domineering temperament, both men and women are the same.

"Okay, there are five left, and I'll pick them out for you from the clan." Patriarch Li compromised.

After talking about manpower, let's talk about other details, including the initial investment and the subsequent output. After the four parties signed documents, the matter was completed.

"It's getting late, so let's go back to Fucheng first." Zhang Fu said.

Li Xiandong's house couldn't accommodate thirty or so of them to spend the night. Of course, if they wanted to stay, the patriarch would definitely be able to arrange for them to stay at other houses, but no one thought about it.

Therefore, after leaving a few words, Zhang Fu and the men of the Qing Gang galloped away again in the afternoon, facing the icy wind. The figure of the horse galloping away simply took away the dreams of all the young people of the Li family.

After these people left, Patriarch Li and his third uncle discussed the quota of the remaining five people in detail. It was difficult to say. After all, there were hundreds of men in the Li family in their prime. Being selected; it's easy to say that it's easy to say that during festivals and when big things happen, like today when the gong was sounded, the few men who followed Patriarch Li later led the team to hide. It's just a matter of a few leaders picking out five people.

There is no need to tell them, Patriarch Li and Third Uncle can decide the quota directly. I told Li Xiaohan just because I was afraid of her objection.

Li Xiaohan had no objection at this time. No one knew the affairs of the clan better than Patriarch Li and his third uncle.

On Li Hehua's side, Li Xiaohan talked to her in detail.

"That's the thing. I can take you with me when it comes to brewing wine. You will definitely learn the secret recipe." Li Xiaohan paused, "But there are not all hidden dangers. There are. One thing I want to tell you in advance is that after learning this secret recipe, when you get married, you cannot tell your husband's family, otherwise you will offend the entire Li family. However, your husband's family may not If you are not interested in this recipe, your mother-in-law and husband's family may be in a dilemma. You are young, so you can go back and discuss it with your mother."

Although Li Xiaohan feels that this is nothing to worry about, considering everything in the worst direction and working hard in the best direction has always been one of her principles.

Besides, this is Li Hehua's life, and Li Hehua has the right to know and make decisions.

"There's no need to discuss, I've decided on my own. Master, I'll follow your example. As for the husband's family who has no trace of Lao Shizi, what should I do if I consider this?" Li Hehua said simply.

"Okay, I saw you right." Li Xiaohan smiled.

The two masters and apprentices looked at each other and smiled, but Li Hehua quickly frowned, "I wonder who my grandfather will choose?"

Li Shengyi had two sons, Li Guiqian and Li Guihou, and Li Guiqian had two more sons, Li Jiajin and Li Jiayin; Li Guihou had two sons and one daughter, Li Jiacai, Li Jiabao, and Li Hehua.

Learning crafts usually starts at a young age. Li Guiqian and Li Guihou are a little older. Li Jiajin and Li Jiayin have sons, and Li Jiacai is also planning to get married. Do the math. It's time to train the younger generation.

"Brother Jia Jin is the eldest son and grandson. Brother Jia Yin came to build a house for your family with your former uncle, and has a better relationship with Uncle Xian Dong. As for my brother, the chance is smaller, but it's not impossible. Maybe, maybe my grandfather thought that I was your apprentice, so he would choose my brother?" Li Hehua analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of each brother.

Who will Li Shengyi give the only spot to?

Everyone in Li Shengyi's family thinks the same way. After all, how important this quota is is known to everyone in Li Shengyi's family who has interacted with Li Xiandong's family for a long time.

To put it more tackily, if one person attains the Tao, then chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. This is the way to heaven.

Li Shengyi did not hesitate for long, "Guiqian, you go."

Li Guiqian was expected but also a little surprised. Most of his life had passed. In his heart, he actually wanted his son to go. His son was young and would still have a lot of time in the future.

Li Guiqian thought this way, and the next generation of the Li family actually also had this kind of thinking.

"What, you think I chose you?" Li Shengyi smiled at the Li family, Jin, Li Jiayin and Li Jiacai of the following generation, "What a joke, I don't care about my son, I care about my grandson? You are the father? I gave birth to you, and you are your father's business."

These words are very vulgar, but the truth is very strong.

The other members of the Li family have no objections. In fact, the other members of the Li family may have some thoughts on choosing Li Jiajin, especially the daughters-in-law. But everyone was convinced by the choice of Li Guiqian.

Even Li Guiyin and Ye Shi felt pity and took it for granted that he was the eldest brother.

My father has always been the most just, unlike my third uncle who didn't want a son for the sake of his grandson.

"Your Majesty, you were also born to me. I'm thinking about dividing you up. I'll give you 30% of the family property and buy you a homestead, right next to Xiandong's house. What do you think?" Li Sheng Yi opened his mouth again and dropped a bomb.

For a moment, the Li family was shocked.

"Dad, the family is separated. I still want to continue living with you." Suddenly, the topic turned to the family separation, and Empress Li Gui was really a little timid.

"Go away, your son is already old and still wants to live with me, so hurry up and leave."

Li Shengyi sighed and said, "Originally, I thought about splitting up the family after I married a daughter-in-law, so that my daughter-in-law would be prosperous for three generations. Your mother and I carefully selected the daughters-in-law of your two brothers. . But now it's too late. If we don't take action, it's your turn to be next door to Xiandong's house. That's all. She is your daughter-in-law after all. You can choose it yourself."

This sentence praised both Zhao and Ye. The two daughters-in-law admired Li Shengyi from the bottom of their hearts.

Speaking of the homestead next door to Li Xiandong's house, Li Guihou also understood the importance, "That's it, dad. It's just dad, the wife of the family fortune, we still have to rely on you to help us, me and him Mom has no idea."

After all, she will be the eldest granddaughter-in-law of the same family, which is very important.

Li Shengyi glanced at Li Gui and said, "Sure, as long as you don't mind that I, the father of a separate family, have too much control, come here and I'll help you look after it."

"Dad, how could I think like this?" Li Guihou quickly explained.

Li Sheng did not answer. He turned to Li Guiqian and said, "Guiqian, I am dividing the family like this and leaving you to stay and guard the house. Do you have any objections?"

"Dad, I don't have any objection. I'll just give it what you say." Li Guiqian has always regarded himself as the eldest son, and he has 70% of the family wealth. This time, his father gave him the quota without any hesitation. There's nothing more to say.

"Sure, let's divide it like this. Go to the clan leader to sign the paperwork." Li Shengyi stood up and said, he really did what he said.

When we went to the patriarch's house, the patriarch and his third uncle were still discussing the wine shop. It was not surprising to hear that Li Shengyi had split up the family. He was just buying the land next door to Li Xiandong's house for Li Guihou. …

"Uncle Shengyi, you move very quickly." Patriarch Li took a deep look at Empress Li Gui and said, "Okay, give it to Empress Li, so that I won't be in trouble."

That is to say, Patriarch Li only has one son, Li Xinhe. If there is another son, Patriarch Li will have to compete for this position.

As a result, Li Shengyi's family was divided.

By the time Li Xiaohan found out, everything was a done deal.

"My second uncle is really amazing." Li Xiaohan praised.

This vision, this courage, this determination.

"No, no one in the family, young or old, disrespects my grandfather." Li Hehua said.

=== Chapter === 101

Li Shengyi's rapid separation caused all kinds of disturbances in some related families.

"It's a pity. When I mentioned it to the clan leader, the clan leader said that the land next door to Xiandong's house has been allocated to the noble queen of Uncle Shengyi's family."

"Uncle Yi's family is born so soon? It's not too late for us to mention it."

"No, they said they separated as soon as they got the news. There was no dispute at all. The separation was neat and tidy. The documents were signed immediately."

"Uncle Shengyi is a master at running the family. Alas, who doesn't have some disputes about the separation of the family? There will be a day when the tongue touches the teeth. There is an extra chicken here, a duck is missing there, etc. It will take a while. I didn't expect Uncle Yi to be born so quickly."

"Yes, I have to accept it. Fortunately, we just wanted to go to the patriarch's house to check it out first, and we haven't mentioned the separation of the family to the boss, second, and third. Let's think about it carefully and look at other places. ."

"Okay, too many girls here are a debt."

A long sigh.

Similar conversations took place in the whispers of several heads of households in Pingshan Village. In the end, due to various considerations, the trip failed to take place.

After all, nowadays, although the government does not care about dividing up family affairs, few people are willing to divide the family. There is strength in numbers. When a large family is together, doing the work in the field and sharing the work at home, it is always better than just a few people. Good person.

Besides, even if the eldest son is willing to split up the family, it will be difficult for the second, third, and even fourth sons below him. How can he survive if the family property and land are divided? The parents are still alive, so we can't watch the sons below him go hungry. die. You have to save more money and make arrangements for your sons before you can separate the family.

Therefore, there are always a minority of people who divide their families, and those who get a clean and neat division like Li Shengyi are even more of the minority among the minority.

In the third uncle's house, the candles were slightly lit, and three figures were hidden in it, but Patriarch Li was nowhere to be seen. They were also talking about Li Shengyi's family affairs.

"What do you think of the separation of the Shengyi family?" the third uncle said slowly.

"Precise vision and quick decision-making."

The person who spoke was another old man, "I gave the quota to my eldest son, who can have any objections. I placed my second son next door to the Xiandong family. The Xiandong family are very grateful. The Xiandong family is about to get up. It's expensive." Later, this house was located next to Xiandong's house. As the saying goes, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. Since their two families are close and neighbors, their relationship will definitely be better. If there are other opportunities next time, Xiaohan will definitely consider Li Guihou's family first. "

"No, the eldest son has been settled, and the second son has also been given a path. It doesn't matter if you are not capable, just follow the capable people. As long as your family can listen to his father's words, there will be many benefits in the future."

"I heard that the little girl from your family worships Xiaohan as her master?"

"Yes, I heard that I'm almost ready to experience it."

"...What's going on in our clan? The aura of the younger generation is all in this girl."

"You burn three sticks of incense and tell your ancestors."

"No, Xinhe has not been admitted as a scholar, and Deyou has also been admitted as a scholar. In a few years, there is hope for a scholar."

"Don't talk too much and let's get back to business." The third uncle's slow voice brought him back to the topic.

"I agree."

"I object. Shengyi is a bit older after all."

"I agree too. I think he can still kill pigs without shaking his hands, and he is expected to live for another few decades. Two people agree, and one person objects." The third uncle said, "Based on Li Shengyi's performance in the past few years, Include Li Shengyi as the next clan elder candidate."

The third uncle tremblingly opened an extremely old book, cut off the heart of the candle, and the candlelight shone brighter. He turned to the middle page of the book and wrote Li Shengyi's name one stroke at a time. Looking carefully, Li Shengyi His name came third, "Come on, sign and press fingerprints."

The remaining two old men signed their names in the book one after another.

After the three of them finished signing, they breathed a sigh of relief and waited slowly for the ink to dry.

"Finally, we got these three people together before we died."

"What are you talking about? This world is peaceful and I want to live for a few more years."

"Who doesn't want to live a few more years, but just refuses to accept old age. I think back then, when I first knew that I was on this list, I was so happy, but in the end it was the third child who got killed. We can only choose the next one here. The batch of people will play their last role again. Now think about it, after so many years, the juniors are all grown up, and we are also old."

"I wonder who Manjing chose?"

"Hey, in our clan, the selection of clan leaders and elders has nothing to do with each other."

"Just to put it bluntly, when we elect, we are not just trying to persuade the clan leader to do things, but the clan leader still has to do the work."

"In the past, I thought he wanted to train Xinhe, and Xinhe was not bad. But now, it's really good. I think he can pass the Juren examination in a hurry. Man Jingde can't bear to have his son trapped in this small clan. He wants to He has to let his son fly. It will not be easy for him to choose someone from scratch."

"If Xiaohan is a boy, then Manjing doesn't have to worry."

"It's uncertain. If Xiaohan were a boy, he would probably take the imperial examination route."

"That's right. After all, it's better to study. It's not like the days when we were fighting, killing, and escaping all the way."

"Yes. Life is getting better, we are getting older, and it is the turn of the young people's world."

With a long sigh, the candle gradually became darker, and the figures of these old men gradually disappeared.

The next day, the sky was already bright, and there were already low voices outside the window. Li Xiaohan opened the door and saw the sunlight reflecting on the snow on the eaves, which made it even more obvious that it was getting late.

Well, she was rushing back from Fucheng and it was hard work. The Li family couldn't bear to rush her, so Li Xiaohan got up late again.

Forget it, it's not unforgivable to wake up late. I'm still young, so I can only grow stronger if I sleep enough. Li Xiaohan comforted himself.

"Miss, you're awake. Do you want to wash up and have breakfast now? Your family members are here in the front yard and waiting for you in the main room." Aunt He walked over and said with a smile.

Li Xiandong and Mrs. Wang had warned Aunt He that Li Xiaohan liked to sleep in occasionally, especially when the weather was getting colder, so never wake her up.

Now Aunt He knows that this smart person has to waste his brain and have to sleep more to make up for it.

"Have my father and mother eaten?"

"The master and his wife have already eaten, and the eldest daughter's food is still being warmed in the kitchen. Shall I bring it to you?" Aunt He was very willing to bring it to Li Xiaohan to eat in the room.

"No, there's no need to go to such trouble. I'll go to the kitchen to eat after washing up." Li Xiaohan said. The people coming to the front yard were probably Uncle Gui and others who came to learn how to make wine. He had to hurry up.

Back in Pingshan Village, Li Xiaohan's goat milk can be supplied every day again. Previously, there was no environment for raising sheep in Fucheng, so Li Xiandong could only occasionally go to the mutton shop to see if there was ready-made goat milk to buy. Later, Li Xiandong also became busy, and Li Xiaohan almost ran out of goat milk.

After taking a sip, it was filled with the aroma of almond and goat milk, mixed with the thickness of the glutinous rice flour, and a familiar taste. Aunt He did not have such skills, "My mother made this."

"Young lady, you have a really good tongue. Madam made this specially for you. You just like this. I said let me do it, but madam said let me learn first." Aunt He said with a smile.

"Well, Aunt He, you can learn from my mother. I really like this." Li Xiaohan said. In order to grow taller and stronger, you must supplement high-quality protein.

"Hey." Aunt He responded crisply. She just said that there was nothing wrong with following the eldest girl.

After breakfast, before going out, Li Xiaohan stepped out of the threshold and suddenly stopped and gestured his height very quickly.

Very good. Although I didn't eat goat's milk, I ate a lot of big bones and small shrimps in Fucheng, so I didn't delay my growth. Now I measure it and it's a fingernail higher than the line I carved before going to Fucheng. It's just that it's too late now. I have to carve out my new height line tonight.

Coming to the conclusion that he was continuing to grow taller, Li Xiaohan smiled happily and walked out quickly, thinking as he walked, he estimated that he could still grow taller before he became an adult. It was not a dream to reach his ideal height before he became an adult. .

When they arrived at the front yard, it turned out that Li Guiqian and five big men were already waiting for tea in the main room. Seeing Li Xiaohan come out, Li Hehua hurriedly greeted him and said, "Master, you are done, my father and the others are here." ."

Li Xiaohan raised an eyebrow. Why, saying that he was done with his work didn't mean that he had woken up. Could it be that he was still covering himself up.

Li Xiaohan smiled at Li Hehua and admitted shamelessly, "Yes."

Then Fang smiled at the big men and said, "I kept you uncles waiting for a long time."

"It's okay, we just arrived not long ago." Li Guiqian said. His niece had already reminded him not to come so early, but it turned out to be too early. I don't know if it will still be this late in the future?

"Looking forward to what we have planned for the next day, I will tell you when I will come the next day. If I have anything to do, I will ask my father to teach you." After Li Xiaohan finished speaking, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It would be best if the time could be fixed, otherwise it would be embarrassing.

After saying this, Li Xiaohan turned around and said, "Dad, please introduce all your uncles to me. I'm really sorry. I haven't met many people, so I couldn't match everyone's names."

Li Xiandong came out in response, a little embarrassed, but also proud, "Come on, I don't need to mention your ex-uncle. This is your uncle Fu Shui, this is your uncle Xueyi, and this is your great honor." Uncle, this is your rich uncle, and this is your car uncle." Li Xiandong pointed to people one by one and told Li Xiaohan that anyone who is called uncle is older than Li Xiandong, and anyone who is called uncle is naturally younger than Li Xiandong.

Li Xiaohan called people in turn, and then said, "Uncles, just call me Xiaohan. I'm young. If you don't understand anything or need anything, you can tell me, or you can tell my father."

She was afraid that these people would call her master, which would be really fatal. She only had Li Hehua as her apprentice.

"Sure, Xiaohan, if you do something wrong, just say it directly, don't worry about our face. Although everyone is older than you, you are our master here." Li Guiqian smiled. said.

"Then I won't be polite. Today, let's first identify the spices used in the pepper wine."

As Li Xiaohan spoke, he pushed open the main door to the west of the front yard of the Li family. Nowadays, all kinds of spices made by the Li family, except pepper, are piled here, including the supplies they brought back from Fucheng this time.

When everyone took a look, sacks of invisible spices were piled up in the room, and the air was mixed with a dry and faint fragrance. They were confused that this was not a spice room, but piles of silver.

"This is cinnamon." Li Xiaohan opened a bag and pointed to a bag of bark inside and said, "We use thick cinnamon. As you can see, the skin of thick cinnamon is rough and the color is purple-red. Smell it. , the flavor of cinnamon is very unique and strong."

As he spoke, Li Xiaohan handed a stick of cinnamon bark to several people and asked them to take a closer look. Nowadays, unlike later generations, there are many spices used. Although this cinnamon is produced locally, it is not expensive, but it is not cheap. Many people may have never seen it in their lives.

Sure enough, several people in front of Li Gui took turns to look at and smell the cinnamon again and again, trying very seriously to remember the appearance and taste, and finally reluctantly put the cinnamon back into Li Xiaohan's hand.

Li Xiaohan put the cinnamon back into the bag, tied the sack again, and untied another sack. This sack was obviously much smaller than the previous one, less than one-third.

"This is pepper." Li Xiaohan sighed inwardly. Pepper is so expensive. This small bag of pepper accounted for almost half of their cost this time. I miss the freedom of using pepper casually in my previous life.

…

"After identifying the spices, let's learn how to prepare the spices. Preparing the ingredients includes how much to use, how to process them, and whether secondary processing is needed..."

…

After working for most of the day, the work was finally finished in the evening. Everyone went back first, except Li Hehua, who stayed and planned to have a dinner at Li Xiaohan's place before going back. In Li Hehua's words, it's been a long time since I had a meal with Master, so I must have a good meal this time.

"Master, you are so amazing. I see my uncle and the others looking confused." Li Hehua said with a smile on his face.

"That's because Uncle Gui and the others have never been exposed to so many spices before. That's why it's like this. Just wait until they get familiar with it." Li Xiaohan said.

However, for those who want to learn the craft, establish their own authority to avoid the trouble of managing it in the future. Only Li Xiaohan himself knows.

After all, these people are her uncles and uncles, and they are usually the masters of the house. Although they are here to learn skills and should be able to correct their posture, Li Xiaohan does not want to cause trouble in the future, so he must nip the bud of trouble in the cradle.

"You know more about spices than anyone else when it comes to making pepper base. You're already one step ahead of others, but you can't be complacent about it. If you can't learn it by then, I won't let you go."

"I understand, Master, don't worry while I do the work." Li Hehua promised, raising his head, with a faint excitement on his face, "Master, I have one more thing to tell you."

"What's the matter?" Li Xiaohan asked curiously. He didn't stay because he wanted to have a meal, but he stayed because of this matter.

"Look," Li Hehua handed over a thin piece of paper, "I have my own room."

Li Hehua's face was full of satisfaction, "My father is planning to build a house next year. I told them that I will pay a sum of money and leave a main house for me in the future. No matter if I get married or something, then Every room belongs to me and cannot be given to my future nephew or anyone else, or even used for other purposes."

"My parents heard this and told me that I didn't need to pay for it, and they would always keep it for me."

"But I insisted. The money I paid for it is what I built with my own efforts. It's just and justified. In the future, when my sister-in-law comes and my parents pass away, no one can drive me away. Once I get married, I will never leave. There's a room."

"My parents listened, took my money, and asked my brother and others to sign and fingerprint me. I will always have a room in any new house built in the future."

"Master, it's great to have money. I'm so happy."

Li Hehua was so happy when she said that, with a smile on her lips but a vague watery look in her eyes.

Li Xiaohan touched her head and said, "You are doing a good job. Keep working hard, and we will continue to make money to buy houses and land in the future."

"Um!"

=== Chapter === 102

In the 20th year of Taihe, it snowed on December 15th.

Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua were sitting on an oxcart, with light snow falling all over their coir raincoats. While breathing, he felt that the air was full of coldness. Li Xiaohan hugged his hand warmer tightly, relying on the only warmth to keep himself from shivering.

"Master, it's me who has caused trouble for you. If I hadn't said that I wanted to go out to catch this last market, you wouldn't have had to brave the wind and snow to come out." Li Hehua said guiltily.

"It's okay. Since I said today is the last time, I must come. Otherwise, they may have to wait in the West Market every day, and they don't know what the weather will be next. We are doing business, and sometimes we say It's just a word of faith." Li Xiaohan comforted.

"I think so too." Li Hehua smiled sheepishly, and then said, "I just feel that I have burdened you, Master, by asking you to follow me out in the snow."

Anyone who is familiar with Li Xiaohan has probably guessed that Li Xiaohan just doesn't like to go out in cold weather. She likes to take a nap in cold weather.

Li Xiaohan: Thank you everyone for making me miss the heating.

"What do you mean it's hurting me? I don't get the bulk of the money for the pepper base." Li Xiaohan let out a breath of white air and said with a smile, "Look at the flying snow in the sky, it's quite beautiful."

Li Hehua knew that Li Xiaohan was comforting her, but neither master nor disciple was shy, so she only replied, "It's so beautiful, Master, it's so cold." After saying that, she shrank her neck and said, "If you ask me, it's the most beautiful. It was early autumn. At that time, snail fertilizer and all kinds of vegetables were available. Malatang is the most delicious when made. You can make a lot of money. It's good in winter, but it's hard to make money in winter."

"Haha, it's not about beauty at all, it's about making money. If you make more money in winter, I guess you will also think winter is pretty. Believe me, it will definitely sell well today."

In winter, when we eat hot pot at home, this is the last time before the new year. They said they would open the stall after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so those in need in the city will open the stall before and after the new year. Small traders will definitely have enough supplies.

"I'm a little worried. We brought five pots of base ingredients here today, which is more than double the amount in the past." Li Hehua was a little worried.

"Don't worry, by then you may feel that there is less base material and less profit." Li Xiaohan comforted.

It took Li Xiaohan and Li Hehua two full days to prepare these five pots of pepper base. One day they boiled the lard and the other day they fried the base. The two of them were exhausted to death.

Do we need more manpower for the pepper base? Li Xiaohan thought in his mind.

After all, Li Hehua has to learn wine and fry the base ingredients, so he is really busy. I don't have time to focus on this pepper base. After the winery is opened, I still have to be busy.

So who should you choose? Li Xiaohan fell into deep thought.

Li Hehua saw Li Xiaohan's thoughtful expression and didn't say anything to disturb her. It's really inconvenient to talk in this windy and snowy sky. I just open my mouth to suck in the cold air.

The oxcart rattled and soon arrived at the West Market.

"The pepper base is here, the pepper base is here!" Someone cheered in the swaying team in the wind and snow. Looking at the direction Li Xiaohan and the others came from, a happy smile appeared on his face that was red from the cold.

Li Xiandong stopped the car, and a few people in front helped to unload the things. Now everyone is a regular customer, and they are all familiar with how to do it.

But Li Xiaohan glanced at the end of the line, and then said loudly, "Sorry, each person can only buy five yuan of base ingredients today. Pass it on, please pass it to the back of the line."

A pot of base ingredients is spread on a template and then cut into cubes of the same size for sale. It's convenient and fast, especially in this winter, when it's freezing in half a day.

"Why, you can only buy it for five yuan. It's the last time before the new year. You won't come until fifteen after the new year. I've already prepared the money to buy one for ten or eight yuan." Someone complained loudly in front.

"Yes, Miss Li, I used to buy as much as I wanted, but today I can only buy five yuan. It's not enough." Someone said noisily.

Li Xiaohan stood, smiled apologetically to everyone, and apologized, "I'm really sorry. We expected there to be a lot of people. We have cooked a few more pots of ingredients today, but we didn't expect there to be so many people. I see After taking a look, I guess it's not enough."

"I also want to sell it to everyone. If I sell it in unlimited quantities, I can sell it faster. It's just that it's a cold weather and everyone has been waiting for a long time. If the people behind me don't buy even one piece, wouldn't it be quite difficult? of."

"So, let's be considerate to each other and save some for the people behind us. Thank you everyone."

When Li Xiaohan said this, the people in front looked behind and saw that there were indeed too many people.

"Forget it, forget it. Five dollars is enough."

"I don't have enough, but I have no choice but to use it reluctantly. It's just that I originally said that I would give a few pieces to my brother-in-law, but now it seems that I can only give him one piece."

Most people were quite reasonable, but of course some people whispered, "Why leave it to the people behind? It's their fault that they come late and can't buy it."

However, these people are in the minority, and most people still reluctantly accept it. The girl is neither too cold nor too tired, so she wants to sell to as many people as possible. In fact, it's not easy for everyone. It's very difficult to go out in such a cold weather and not be able to buy anything at all.

And today they are in the front, who knows they won't be in the back in the future. The spicy pepper base is becoming more and more popular. If they are behind in the queue in the future, they can at least buy a few pieces.

So these words were passed down sentence by sentence. Li Xiaohan also warned, "Tell the people behind you not to wait in line if there are still people coming."

These words were passed on again and again, and the people behind were a little flustered, peeping their heads, counting whether they could have a turn. After all, there are some regular customers who know the approximate amount of ingredients in a pot of Li's soup.

Soon, Li Xiaohan and the others prepared the goods and started selling them. On a cold day, the pepper base was frozen hard. I had already cut it into different sizes, but now the delivery is very fast while paying for it.

The team slowly moved forward, and when there were only a few people left, there was really no other way. The last few people had no choice but to go back empty-handed. Fortunately, these people also came from behind. They were obviously asking not to wait in line, but they still wanted to get lucky. Now I can only lament my bad luck.

After selling the last piece and dealing with the last few dissatisfied customers, the Li family was ready to pack up and go back.

"Master, in the end, those ten or so people still got two or three yuan each. Why did you still sell the base material for five yuan per person? Didn't you say you would try to take care of everyone?" Li Hehua's subordinates He kept asking doubtfully.

"Who will rise? Who is willing to make this sacrifice." Li Xiaohan said, "This rule will either be undetermined from the beginning. If it is set, don't change it at will."

"You have to know that if we open our mouth, the few people who bought it later may not be willing, but they have no choice but to accept it. But they feel aggrieved. They clearly said five yuan, how can they wait in line? It's only three yuan and two yuan."

"Unless they are willing to open up and move around, we don't want to be the moral kidnapper."

"Oh. That's right." Li Hehua murmured and nodded, feeling that it made sense.

"Then Master, isn't there a way to get the best of both worlds?"

"There are so many people in this world who have the best of both worlds. It's good to be able to take care of most people." Li Xiaohan comforted.

Knowing that Li Hehua was young and valued the pepper business, and would rather embarrass himself in the hope of satisfying everyone, Li Xiaohan persuaded him, "I know you want everyone to buy the pepper base, but You have to think about whether the few people who came behind were the last ones to come, or they continued to line up after we said it was not enough. They are not children anymore. Since they came late, they should be responsible for their coming. It's too late to take responsibility. Just be yourself and don't think too much."

"Hey." Li Hehua sighed, "I don't understand."

"If you don't understand, just think about it slowly. If you make money, I'll treat you to soup noodles."

On such a cold day, it is not a sin to rush up in the wind and snow early in the morning, work hard for almost an hour, and then go home with an empty stomach, cold and hungry.

"Why don't you let me, the host, treat you to this noodle soup?" Suddenly a gentle male voice came in teasingly.

"Master Zhang?" Li Xiaohan raised his head and asked in surprise, "Why are you here? How long have you been here?"

Why did he come to West Market in this cold weather? There haven't been any major events recently.

"I happened to be passing by on business, and I didn't come long ago. I just saw that Miss Li and you were busy, so I didn't come forward to disturb you." Zhang Fu said.

"Are you done with your work now? I wonder if I have the honor to invite Miss Li and the others to Tongfu Restaurant for a bowl of noodle soup?" Zhang Fu said with a smile.

"Okay." Li Xiaohan responded happily, "Dad, He Hua, Mr. Zhang, let's go to Tongfu Restaurant for hot noodle soup."

"Hey. Thank you Mr. Zhang." Li Xiandong and Li Hehua were not so natural. Li Xiandong was a little bit better, after all, he had gotten along with her in Fucheng. Li Hehua was a little more reserved, but this noble young master was really a rare person in Pingshan Village. In the past, it looked fine from a distance when there were many people. But now that there are few people, it seems really difficult to get close.

Although Mr. Zhang looks a bit noble, the noodles Mr. Zhang invites you to eat are very down-to-earth. Hot soup noodles are hot soup noodles.

A large bowl of hot, yellowish slender noodles, topped with a generous amount of stewed mutton, with a bit of red wolfberry and green onion, Li Xiaohan first took a big mouthful of thick soup. Ah, I just felt that after taking a sip of the hot soup, the ginger smell in the soup was very strong, and the coldness all over my body was driven away.

Zhang Fu also ate with them. Even the portion in the bowl was the same as theirs. He didn't eat less just because he was a noble man.

The four of them ate the noodles without talking. After finishing the last bite, they felt that their whole bodies were soft and warm. Because of this meal of hot noodle soup, Li Hehua and Li Xiandong finally felt less restrained: Your young master is similar to them and eats a lot.

Taking out his handkerchief and wiping his mouth, Li Xiaohan finally came to his senses, "How are you doing here in Fucheng?"

"It's pretty good. The front is stable." The border front is stable, there is no big problem.

"Food prices have stopped rising." Food from Jiangnan has arrived, and food prices have stabilized.

"How are you doing there?"

Zhang Fu said it very cryptically, but Li Xiaohan understood what it meant. His eyes were bright, "That's good. It's going well here too. By the way, the first batch of wine we brewed will be ready tomorrow. Now, do you want to come over and give it a try?"

It is talking about the first batch of wine that people like Li Guiqian learned to brew.

"OK."

"Then ask Gang Leader Ye if he is interested in coming over and taking a look."

"…become."

=== Chapter === 103

In the winter of the 24th year of Taihe, December 16th, the house of Li Xiandong in Pingshan Village.

"How is it?" Li Xiaohan asked, looking at Zhang Fu and Gang Leader Qing.

The six people around, including Li Guiqian, were also looking at Zhang Fu and Gang Leader Qing uneasily. Today is the first batch of pepper wine they brewed. Although Li Xiaohan said it was not a big problem, these six people still felt unsure. Now let's look at the feedback of Zhang Fu and Gang Leader Qing after trying the wine.

Zhang Fu swallowed the last sip of wine and did not speak immediately. Instead, he thought about it with a solemn expression. Fang Shen said carefully, "It's no different from before."

As soon as these words came out, everyone who was watching and waiting for the result laughed. There is no better comment than that they are the same.

Talking about texture, taste, and lingering power may be polite but not true. Only by saying it is the same as before can we reassure everyone. Don't ask for better, don't hope for worse, as long as it's the same as before, then it's worth being happy.

The leader of the Green Gang, who was about to say something, glanced at Zhang Fu out of the corner of his eye and felt at this moment that he was indeed suitable for fighting.

"Leader Ye?" Li Xiaohan shifted his gaze, but this one hadn't answered yet.

Everyone's smiles faded slightly, and they looked over with expectant eyes. Although they were mostly calm, there was another person after all.

"There is no difference." The leader of the Green Gang said, indeed there is no better or more suitable evaluation than this.

As soon as these words came out, everyone felt relieved.

"Okay, don't worry now. I told my father that there is no problem, but you still don't believe it." Li Xiaohan joked with a smile.

"Xiaohan, it's not that we don't believe you, it's just that you and Xiandong are our own people after all. Whatever happens to you will be fine." Li Guiqian explained embarrassedly, "Of course we are not saying that you are not good, we are just still Mr. Zhang and Gang Leader Ye have also seen it, so we can feel relieved."

"Yes. I understand what your uncle means. It's just that I've finished tasting the wine. Let's go and get busy." Li Xiaohan said to everyone with a smile, and then changed the subject, "Uncle Gui, I remember that your family killed people today. Got a pig?"

"Yes, I killed one earlier and left one to be killed today." Li Guiqian looked at Li Xiaohan, Zhang Fu, and Gang Leader Qing and invited, "You guys come over for a pig-killing feast. Mr. Zhang, Gang Leader Ye, no. If you don't like it, let's have a simple meal together?"

After all, their family is divided. In the past, one pig was enough to eat, but now one pig has to be divided into two families. Especially if Li Guihou wants to build a house in the next year, hiring people to build a house will have to boil lard, If you want to eat bacon, these must be planned in advance. When Li Xiandong's family built their house, the cost of buying fresh meat for cooking was a big burden. People who know how to calculate and run a household would not do this.

Therefore, they might as well keep an extra pig in their family this year and slaughter it before the new year, so that it can be used by Li Guihou after the family is divided.

"Do you want to go over? My second uncle's house kills pigs, which is fun and delicious. It has a unique taste." Li Xiaohan asked with a smile on his face.

In fact, she came up with this idea when she asked Li Guiqian about the pig killing on the spot. After all, she was the one who invited him here. Logically speaking, he would have to invite someone to lunch after coming all the way. It seemed that the clan leader had to accompany him. Come on, let me at least cook a few dishes.

However, it is December now, and Aunt He has gone home to celebrate the New Year again. The weather is freezing. Li Xiaohan wants to wash and cut vegetables and cook. After that, he has to clean up and wash the dishes. Someone can help Li Xiaohan. I want to move.

So, she came up with this idea. Bring Mr. Zhang and the Qing Gang leader there. The second uncle's family will definitely welcome them. Moreover, they have a large family and there is a ready-made pig killing feast. It will save time and effort for her to go there.

Now it depends on what Young Master Zhang and Gang Leader Qing want. I wonder if they are interested in this authentic farmer's pig-killing feast?

Zhang Fu and Leader Qing looked at each other and said, "Then go over and bother Mr. Li."

"Don't bother me, don't bother me." Li Guiqian waved his hands repeatedly and smiled, then turned to Li Xiaohan and said, "Then I will go back and prepare. Xiaohan, you will bring Mr. Zhang and Gang Leader Qing over later."

"Okay. Let's discuss the matter with the clan leader first, and we'll get there later." Li Xiaohan responded, having solved one thing, and felt happy, "Everyone, please come here today, and we will continue tomorrow."

So the onlookers looked at Li Gui with envy and was willing to leave. It was so honorable. Mr. Zhang and Gang Leader Qing came to their home for dinner, and they wanted to go. It would be better if they could go to their own home.

If I had known that Young Master Zhang and Gang Leader Qing were so approachable and interested in the pig-killing feast, I would have moved the New Year Pig back a little before killing it so that I could speak at this time. I want to eat it too.

At that time, I can brag about it to future generations for a lifetime. The second son of General Zhang's family in Fucheng and the leader of the Qing Gang came to my house to have a pig-killing banquet, which was very honorable.

It's a pity that the New Year Pig of their own has been killed long ago. The others felt extremely regretful, but they could only leave reluctantly.

"Clan leader, Young Master Zhang, Gang Leader Ye, let's come over here." Li Xiaohan said, making sure that the quality of the pepper wine here is no problem, and he can also confirm the plans for the coming year.

Several people sat down together, Hehua helped pour the tea and then left. Li Xiandong stood next to him as a thick and dark vase. Li Xiaohan added tea to everyone and started the topic, "Clan leader, let's talk about the clan's preparations for next year. It's like growing peppers."

One of the most important raw materials for pepper wine is pepper. This must be self-sufficient, otherwise your neck will be hung on the rope in someone else's hand.

Patriarch Li cleared his throat gently and said, "So far, the number of acres of fields that have come to me to sign up for planting pepper next year has reached 103 acres. According to the data Hehua provided me, it is estimated that it can produce fresh pepper." The pepper is about 90,000 kilograms, and the dried pepper is about 20,000 kilograms. This is just the initial number of acres registered. After we finally determine the demand of the winery, we will reduce it proportionally."

The appointment for the number of pepper growers for the coming year has always been under the control of patriarch Li. Li Xiaohan did not participate much, so Li Xiaohan was almost shocked, "Have you included my ten acres of pepper land?"

"No." Chief Li said.

Li Xiaohan calculated in his mind that when discussing the issue of Eucommia ulmoides, the clan leader and his third uncle revealed that there were about 62 families in the clan, with about 700 acres of paddy fields and more than 800 acres of dry fields. Li Xiaohan believed that the tribe would not be willing to use paddy fields to grow peppers, but just like this, one-eighth of the dry land was already occupied.

It's so popular, so promising. But this is too much.

"So many people signed up?" Li Xiaohan asked. She didn't do much to promote it.

"Well, the ten acres of land you planted this year will be harvested from May to the end of September. The yield is so good that it is not difficult to maintain, unlike cotton, which can be harvested in case of accidents. If it rains, half of a year's hard work will be wasted." Patriarch Li replied, "Moreover, the popularity of pepper wine is visible to the naked eye, and everyone thinks it can be done."

This was caused by myself. Li Xiaohan smiled bitterly in his heart. It's just that this variety of pepper is really good, and the yield per mu can actually reach several hundred. In his previous life, Li Xiaohan knew that the yield of pepper was high, ranging from 3,000 to 5,000, so he thought that due to the times, the yield of several hundred acres was The output should be considered normal.

Unexpectedly, the output, which is several hundred, now looks amazing.

However, one thing needs to be clarified. "It's good to grow peppers. That's because you're lucky this year. In fact, they are also afraid of pests and diseases."

"What kind of crops are not afraid of pests and diseases?" Patriarch Li sighed.

"Too much." Li Xiaohan frowned. Alcohol and soju actually can't use pepper.

"Actually, it's okay." Zhang Fu and Qing Gang leader interjected, "Miss Li, you have underestimated the popularity of pepper wine."

Isn't it just ten times the land? There is no problem if we get ten times more land.

"No," Li Xiaohan slowly shook his head. The current situation was unstable. After all, wine was not as important as food to survive. "Some people have occupied the wheat fields. Cut them all down and use cotton fields for planting."

"Sure, I think so too. No matter what, it's not as important as food." Patriarch Li agreed.

Seeing that the two people had reached an agreement, Zhang Fu and Qinggang did not interrupt. Li Xiaohan's stability was understood by both of them, "Just like this, the raw materials may still be in short supply."

"It's okay. If there is a shortage of pepper wine, let's make shochu. This can be sold at a higher price and will not be affected by the pepper production." Li Xiaohan said, "Is the shochu popular outside?"

"This batch made more money than the pepper wine." Zhang Fu said that during this period, most of the shochu was sold by Tongfu Restaurant, "but some people have already suspected that the recipe of shochu and pepper is not the same."

Li Xiaohan was speechless. These people's tongues are really good. However, "First of all, it's all made from pepper, but the ingredients used in the recipe are different. By the way, our wine is always called pepper wine, doesn't it sound good?"

"Indeed." Others agreed.

"Then what new name should we give?" The names of famous wines from later generations flashed through Li Xiaohan's mind, but none of them were suitable.

Everyone fell into deep thought.

"This wine has a burning sensation in the mouth. Otherwise, we would give it the same series name, and then give three different wines different subdivision names. This way, it would be easy to say that they are all related to the pepper recipe." Zhang Fuchuan Speak slowly.

Li Xiaohan and others looked at Zhang Fu and motioned for him to continue. Zhang Fu was held up on the Liangshan Mountain and could only continue, "If the entrance is burning, it is related to fire or something. How about calling it Lieyan?" The turbid wine can be called burning fire, the pure wine can be called burning throat, and the arrogant wine can be called burning heart."

"Burning fire, burning throat, burning heart." Li Xiaohan muttered.

This really corresponds to the feeling of the three kinds of wine. Because the wine has the lightest flavor, the turbid wine has the strongest pepper flavor and is spicy in the mouth. The pure wine is better because of the fusion of wine and pepper and other medicinal materials, so the reaction is slightly Slowly, you can feel it only after it enters the throat; the last soju has nothing to do with pepper, that is, after the alcohol concentration rises, the whole person feels warm and edifying. The ancients did not talk about the brain reaction, only the heart Holding back the energy.

This name sounds much more classy than their pepper wine. Of course, the price is justified.

"I think it's pretty good." Li Xiaohan nodded.

She was the founder of Fanjiao Wine, and she took 50% of the share. She said yes, and everyone had no objections.

So, with the consent of the owner of the winery, Fanjiao Wine changed its name.

Where no one was paying attention, there was a slight smile on Zhang Fu's lips.

After changing the name of the pepper wine, oh, the non-flame wine, and deciding on the raw materials for next year, Li Xiaohan asked again, "Chief, have you chosen the location of the winery?"

This place was also chosen by Patriarch Li. No one knows the situation of the clan better than Patriarch Li, and the paperwork for building a house also needs to be handled by the clan leader. Therefore, giving this component to the clan is actually a big deal. Several parties win each other.

"I've chosen it. It's just past your house, next to the small pond in the village." Patriarch Li said.

The small pond is actually in the most remote part of the village, behind which is the mountainous area of the clan. At that time, Li Xiaohan was afraid that if the large amount of alcohol in the winery caught fire or even exploded, he asked the patriarch to choose a place farther away from the village, preferably closer to the water source. Li Xiaohan originally wanted to dig a well, but now it seems that there is no more suitable place than the side of a small pond. It is far away from the crowd and has its own water source.

"That place is quite nice." Even a silent person like Li Xiandong praised it.

The quantity of peppers planted has been decided, the location of the winery has been selected, and even the name has been changed. A few people will check the data during this period. There is no problem. This matter has been decided. It can only be done in the next year. Construction officially started later.

"Okay, it's almost time, let's go eat." Li Xiaohan stood up and said, having finished one thing and having delicious food without having to cook by himself, Li Xiaohan was in a very good mood.

The group of people came to Li Shengyi's house, and sure enough, the pig had been almost killed. In the kitchen, smoke was curling up, and the pig offal soup had been cooked.

Patriarch Li walked in front. As the head of the clan, it was his duty to lead people to the front for the pig-killing feast. However, when they were in the main room of Li Shengyi's family, Patriarch Li still let Zhang Fu and Leader Qing out. .

"You two are here, welcome." Li Shengyi smiled boldly. He was in high spirits during happy events recently. His two sons separated their families smoothly. The eldest son learned a craft, and the younger son's family can also find a way. , Li Shengyi thought that he had made all the arrangements, so when he saw Zhang Fu and Gang Leader Qing, these two guests who brought good luck, he welcomed them from the bottom of his heart.

"Old man, I'm here to bother you again."

"Don't bother me, don't bother me, sit down, sit down." Li Shengyi asked people to sit down, "You can eat after a while."

A few people sat down together, and then Ma brought a few plates of fried pork rinds, oil residue and tea. The tea was farm tea, and the fried pig skin and oil residue were freshly fried. Originally this fried food was fried in the afternoon, but now it seems that it was fried in advance. But it must have been fried not long ago, and the oil is still warm.

Treating guests in this way is indeed warm and does not exceed one's ability to bear.

"This fried pork skin is good." Li Xiaohan picked up a piece and introduced it.

Zhang Fu and Gang Leader Qing then picked up the fried pork rinds, put them in their mouths, and chewed them slowly.

"It's very fresh, and it tastes unique." Zhang Fu said, he had never eaten like this before, and it was really new to him.

"I've had it in the past, and the wine delivery was pretty good. This freshly fried one is even more delicious." Gang Leader Qing continued.

Li Xiaohan smiled even more happily. Although he knew that these two people were not the ones holding the table, she brought people over for dinner and her sincere love still made both the host and guest happier than polite words.

After the two of them finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became even gentler.

"It's not a precious thing, but I think the two of you have never eaten anything, so I can only give you a taste of the taste of our farm." Li Shengyi said with a smile.

"Yes, the New Year of the Pig is a big event for us, and the Shengyi family's pig-killing feast is also ranked among the top in our clan." The clan leader agreed.

"Then we want to have a taste." The two of them said and tasted another piece of oil residue.

Li Xiaohan raised his eyebrows and watched Brother Dou, who was leaning against the wall to peek and eavesdrop, run away in a flash. The direction he ran towards was the kitchen. It seemed that he was a spy who had been ordered to come.

About half an hour later, the pork offal soup was ready. The weather was cold, so the group still gathered together in the kitchen to eat. Fortunately, Li Shengyi's kitchen is large and doesn't look crowded. Zhang Fu and Qing Gang Leader also seem to be adapting well.

The cold wind is howling outside, and the house is steaming. The steam is rising in the big pot, and the sweetness and deliciousness of the pork are filling the air. Li Xiaohan picked up a piece of meat, hey, it was pig lung, it squeaked; he picked up another piece, it was still pig lung; the third piece, it was not pig lung this time; the fourth piece, it was still pig lung...

However, Brother Dou's confused voice said, "Hey, why do I only have a little bit of pig lungs?"

Li Xiaohan decided that he would serve the next bowl himself, at least leaving some pig lungs for Brother Dou and the others.

=== Chapter === 104

In the twenty-fourth year of Taihe, it is December 30th.

Li Xiaohan stood in the Li family ancestral hall, watching the patriarch lead people to perform the annual ancestor worship ceremony.

The atmosphere was solemn and solemn. Li Xiaohan stood among a group of women below, his thoughts wandering.

Unknowingly, another year has passed. Looking back, I have tried my best every step of the way, so her steps are more leisurely than last year. She did her part and got the rewards she deserved.

I hope it will be the same in the coming year and move forward safely step by step.

Li Xiaohan looked up again at the ancestral tablets in front, thinking of his two wonderful lives. If it is really my ancestors who have spirits, I hope you will bless me and help us all survive the upcoming turbulence smoothly.

After sincerely praying to his ancestors, Li Xiaohan felt that what he asked for was not too much. If his ancestors had spirits, they should bless him.

After setting his expectations for his ancestors, Li Xiaohan withdrew his thoughts and looked around. In the Li family's ancestral hall, because the life in the past two years has been relatively good, he can still build a winery next year. Although not everyone can learn to make wine, but Each family was assigned a share to grow peppers, and everyone's faces were filled with satisfaction, joy, and longing for the future.

However, not everyone is the same, there are some people who are different.

Li Xiaohan glanced at his grandfather's family and saw that his grandfather Li Shengli was wearing a brand-new cotton coat. This was a fresh pattern in Fucheng. It was a New Year's gift from his father - he couldn't keep his whole family alone. They all put on the clothes of the city, leaving only my grandfather. Even if he is the grandfather of the family separation, it is always a bit unreasonable.

My family is not short of money for a cotton-padded coat, so why bother leaving a place for others to discuss privately.

Of course, no one will talk about Li Xiaohan's family in person nowadays.

It's just that these fresh and decent clothes did not play their due role in making Li Shengli more respectable. Li Shengli's brows were furrowed, his mouth was pursed, and his face was dark. He was standing in a corner, away from Li Shengyi and Li Xiandong.

Next to Li Shengli stood Li Xiannan and Li Cairong, their father and son. A year later, Li Xiannan looks like two brothers to Li Xiandong back then. He is slightly hunched over, as if he has been bent over by life, and his face is full of silence, sadness, and avoidance. It seems that no matter who it is, it is not easy to be the eldest son, or it is not easy to be Li Shengli's eldest son.

Compared with the two elders, Li Cairong may be still young, and there was still desire and dissatisfaction in his eyes, but this dissatisfaction was avoided after seeing Li Xiaohan.

Now Li Cairong already knows that this cousin, who was once considered to be no threat, is no longer a figure that he cannot reach.

Especially after opening a wine shop in partnership with Zhang Fu and the Qing Gang leader, Li Cairong knew that he could no longer face off against his cousin, otherwise he would face off against the entire Li family, and the General Mansion and the Qing Gang in the entire city. match.

Li Cairong's heart was full of fear, and he could clearly see the two warning glances that day. Now he lowers his head knowingly.

Li Xiaohan looked at Li Cairong and looked away, feeling bored. After confirming that there was no threat, he stopped looking at the family and returned to the ancestral hall.

Above, the patriarch has begun to read this year's list of people. Li Xiaohan looked at the row of men above, his eyes slightly narrowed, thoughtfully.

Li Xiaohan knew that the family had a genealogy. The names of boys were entered in the genealogy when they were born, but the names of girls were not. In this era, when a girl married into her husband's family tree, she was not included in her mother's family tree. For example, the family tree of the Li family did not record the names of girls in the family, but the daughters-in-law who married into the family could be included as vassals. For example, the Wang family was Li Xiandong. His wife is Wang. It is estimated that even Wang herself has almost forgotten that she has a name called Wang Qingcao. Although the name Qingcao was given casually.

When Li Xiaohan thought that he would inexplicably become so-and-so's wife Li in the future, he felt an indescribable energy in his heart.

It's as if the name has been erased and the whole person has become a vague appendage. It doesn't really matter whether it is the Li family, the Wang family or the Chen family.

A feeling that I don't know how to describe welled up in my heart, and was finally suppressed lightly.

The world is like this. Do you want to hit your head and break the rock? No, I have never been such a passionate person. As long as I live a good life, I don't care whether I leave a name after death.

After paying homage to their ancestors, Li Xiaohan and Li Xiandong carried their burdens back home. Since Li Xiaoshuang was still young, Mrs. Wang kept Li Xiaoshuang at home. After all, the ancestral hall was crowded and the weather was cold, so I was afraid that Li Xiaoshuang would get sick.

When the father and daughter returned home, Wang was putting away the buns and putting them into the basket with Li Xiaoshuang on her back. The various kinds of steamed buns made yesterday have been left outside to freeze overnight. They have become frozen hard. They should be put away carefully at this time. When it is time to eat them, steam them and heat them up. You can eat them until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

"Mom, be careful. It's frozen. Just wait until my dad comes back and make it." The Li family made the same kinds of buns this year, but in larger quantities, especially the spicy radish buns, which were very popular last year. Just do more.

Moreover, there are more people coming to Li Xiandong's house to give gifts this year. At least the people at the wine shop have made an appointment in advance to come over on the first day of the new year to pay New Year greetings. When people come to give gifts, their own family is not allowed to return gifts. Therefore, Li Xiandong's family made a lot of steamed buns this year.

"It's okay, Xiaoshuang and I are wearing thick clothes." Wang said with a smile.

After raising her for almost three months, Ms. Wang felt that no woman in Pingshan Village would be as happy as her when giving birth to a child, not to mention that it wasn't a heavy job and the clothes were thick, so she wouldn't be able to freeze.

Li Xiaohan saw that Wang's face was rosy, and Li Xiaoshuang also had her eyes wide open and bit her fingers, not looking cold, so she stopped talking. The family once again paid homage to their ancestors, had a sumptuous New Year's meal, took a bath, put on new clothes, and stayed together around the brazier.

"This year has gone by so fast." Wang said while patting Li Xiaoshuang gently.

At this moment, Li Xiaoshuang was wrapped in a red quilt, her face was like a white and tender glutinous rice dumpling, and she was sleeping soundly.

"No, our family just moved into a new house last year, and life is better now." Li Xiandong added another handful of firewood to the fire plate, and then loosened the old wood, and the flames instantly became brighter. Bright and warm.

Li Xiaohan held up an iron fork with a glutinous rice cake stuck on it. He held it above the flame and roasted it gently. Bubbles gradually formed on the surface of the snow-white glutinous rice cake, and then turned slightly brown. Li Xiaohan then put the glutinous rice cake on it. Put it on the plate aside, cut it into several small pieces with scissors, and roll it on the soybean noodles.

"Dad, Mom, give it a try."

"Well, the bean noodles are sandwiched with a little brown sugar, which makes them even sweeter. The glutinous rice cake is soft and glutinous, with a burnt aroma." Wang praised it while eating.

In the kitchen, Wang has some talent. Li Xiaohan still can't get the perfect crispiness of the Li family's fried fish; the almond goat's milk drink took Aunt He a little half a month to learn. , I still can't get the right feeling of moderate sweetness and thickness.

"Really." Li Xiaohan put a piece of the entrance into his mouth, well, it is as Wang said, it's really good.

"I'll try baking another meatball." Li Xiaohan said enthusiastically.

Li Xiandong and Wang looked at Li Xiaohan with smiles and did not help. They just sat and waited for it to be done, as if Li Xiaohan's baked food was very fragrant.

By the time Li Xiaohan finished baking the bunch of six meatballs, half an hour had passed. The meatballs were roasted until they were sizzling, with a tough yet crispy skin, and the aroma of roasted oil. Li Xiandong and Wang nodded while eating. As expected, my daughter is good at everything, she is smart and can make money, and she is good at all kinds of crafts. Although she is not a popular girl, she is very good at cooking.

"Okay, just bake a bunch of meatballs and eat them. Your skin and meat are tender. If you bake them for a long time, your face will dry out and hurt tomorrow. If you want to eat them again, ask your dad to bake them for you." After finishing the meatballs, Wang said with a smile. Said, Li Xiandong took another fork with a smile.

Li Xiaohan didn't object, he just forked two more chicken wings and continued to roast them. There was nothing else to do during the vigil, but he was just killing time and chatting. "Dad, next year I have to entrust Eucommia ulmoides and Panax notoginseng to me." You. Sanqi can't be known to anyone yet, so I can rest assured if I leave it to you."

Although it is said that it looks like a wild plant, it is not completely ignored. At least it must be watered and weeded from time to time. If there are any diseases or insect pests, it must be detected and treated early. There are no pesticides at this time. Most of the time, we use prevention and treatment, and we catch them with our hands when we find them. Therefore, it is very important to detect and control pests in the early stage.

"Sure, no problem." Li Xiandong said, he was confident in farming.

"Next spring and March, I have to help Mr. Zhang cultivate ash seeds. I guess I will have to leave for a while. It is just the time to raise pepper seedlings. I guess I will have to leave the pepper planting in the village to you and Hehua. Also. There is a wine shop, and it is estimated that the wine shop will be almost completed by then, and it will have to be left to you two, especially you, after all, Hehua is not very familiar with wine." Li Xiaohan continued.

"There is no problem with the peppers. I will tell you when I lead the villagers to sow the peppers." Li Xiandong responded to the peppers very simply. After all, he had experience in farming, but it was difficult for the winery, "It's just that Regarding the winery, I can make wine, but I don't know how to manage the winery?"

"You don't have to worry about the management of the winery. The clan leader will take care of it. Just lead everyone to make and steam wine. I estimate that the sales of steamed wine will increase greatly after the new year." Li Xiaohan reassured.

Li Xiandong felt relieved when he heard that he didn't have to take care of things by himself and only had to bring wine and steam the wine. "Okay, I have no problem. You can go in peace."

Although he didn't know much about what Li Xiaohan wanted to do, Li Xiandong also knew that what his daughter and Mr. Zhang were doing was very important.

Li Xiaohan looked at Li Xiandong. In fact, she had just tested whether Li Xiandong wanted to take care of the wine shop, but Li Xiandong subconsciously avoided it.

I sighed in my heart, Li Xiandong's advantages and disadvantages are very obvious.

Xu has been Li Shengli's eldest son for a long time in the past thirty years, and Li Shengli is a good-faced person. Therefore, Li Xiandong can do the things assigned to him very seriously and meticulously. As long as Li Xiandong says there is no problem. , then this matter will definitely be handled properly, so don't worry.

However, also because Li Shengli is a good-faced person and Chen's pillow style, no matter how well Li Xiandong performs, Li Shengli can always find something to be picky about. Therefore, Li Xiandong lacks self-confidence and social interaction with others. Ability.

According to the standards of later generations, Li Xiandong is a very good technical subordinate. If you explain things clearly, he can do a very good job and you don't have to worry; however, you cannot expect him to be all-round and command the overall situation.

In fact, I still have insufficient self-confidence and insufficient experience.

However, we are only halfway through life, and many things can still be done slowly.

Thinking this way, Li Xiaohan smiled and looked at her father with eyes full of admiration, "Dad, you are really capable. Fortunately, I have you now. Otherwise, I don't know what I would do?"

Li Xiandong scratched his head in embarrassment, "What can I do? You can do better than dad. From now on, you two sisters will be better than dad and mom."

"Of course Xiaoshuang and I are going to become great. But dad, I'm not lying. Look, there are a few people who are learning wine making who don't learn as fast or as well as you. I didn't have the nerve to say it at the time. Come out, but Dad, you must know who it is, right?"

Li Xiandong smiled and said nothing. He was not a talker behind someone's back. But Li Xiaohan was indeed right. When he taught his people how to make wine, he knew that he was not bad either. You must know that except for Li Guiqian, the other five people who make wine are all carefully selected from the clan. Li Guiqian was also the eldest son of Li Shengyi, a figure that Li Xiandong was ashamed of in the past.

It turns out that he is not bad among the best people in the clan. Li Xiandong was awakened. He felt unbelievable and found that it was actually like this.

"Mom, tell me, am I right?" Li Xiaohan asked for Wang's opinion.

"Yes, Xiaohan is right." Wang replied without hesitation, looking at the two father and daughter with a smile, feeling that she had nothing more to ask for. In her heart, her husband is her god, and of course he is powerful. This has never changed.

With Wang's affirmation, Li Xiandong became a little more confident.

Li Xiaohan looked at Li Xiandong, who had escaped from the environment in the old house that had always suppressed her father, and did not believe that his father could not change even a little bit.

After speaking to Li Xiandong, Li Xiaohan looked at Mrs. Wang, "Mom, I have something to ask you?"

"What's the matter? What do you mean?" Wang asked in confusion.

"It's like this. After I leave, Hehua will be in charge of the pepper base stall by himself, and he also has to learn how to make wine. I guess he will be too busy. So I am going to bring someone over for the pepper base. You Do you want to give it a try? If you want to give it a try, we can ask Aunt He to take care of Xiaoshuang for you, so that you can take some time off; if you don't want to, I can ask Auntie Ye to learn this technique."

Around March next year, Wang's body will almost recover, but Li Xiaoshuang will definitely be unable to live without people at that time, so someone must take care of Li Xiaoshuang. Fortunately, Aunt He came with her.

However, Li Xiaohan didn't know what Wang himself was thinking. She had never given birth to a child in her previous life, but she had still heard the debate between working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

From Li Xiaohan's perspective, it's all personal choice.

Therefore, Li Xiaohan wanted to leave this choice to Wang.

"Can I make the pepper base?" When she started making the pepper base, Ms. Wang was already pregnant. She was afraid that the strong smell of pepper would cause coughing and affect the unborn baby, so when frying the pepper, Ms. Wang All away from the kitchen.

"Mom, of course you can do it. You have forgotten that you have never been in the kitchen before. Nowadays, who doesn't say that cooking is delicious? You are talented in this area. You don't have to think about whether you can do it or not, you just... Just think about whether you want it or not."

"Then... wouldn't it be good if I asked Aunt He to take care of Xiaoshuang?" Wang's eyes glanced at Li Xiandong. She had never seen a mother-in-law whose baby was left to someone else to take care of, while she went to do other things by herself.

Li Xiaohan also looked at Li Xiandong. Li Xiandong's opinion was very important in Wang's heart. Li Xiaohan might be able to forcefully say, "Mom, you don't need to worry about dad," but in fact, the relationship between husband and wife is more important than the relationship between parent and child. Li Xiandong and Wang are just They are people who will be together for life, at least in the beginning they should be allowed to get along on their own.

"There shouldn't be any problem. Look at the families in the city. I heard that the wealthy families have servants dedicated to serving their children. If you want to go stir-fry the pepper base, just go." Li Xiandong said hesitantly, He didn't have this choice in the environment where he grew up. In the village, everyone raised their own children. Of course, the whole family helps each other in the village, but on every fifth and tenth day, Wang has to go to Fucheng for the stir-fried pepper base.

But comparing his feelings with his own, after Li Xiandong learned how to grow peppers and brew wine, he just felt that the more he could do, the happier he would be.

Thinking back to the time when Mrs. Wang didn't know much about the kitchen, and later after the family split, Li Xiandong became much more confident when he saw Mrs. Wang discussing cooking with Mrs. Zhao and the others.

It seems that Wang also wants to stir-fry the pepper base.

"Then, I'm going then?" Wang said anxiously. She was afraid of being said to be a bad mother. How could she let someone else take care of her baby? However, she also wanted to give it a try. Both the man and the daughter at home had their own affairs to be busy with, and she was the only one giving birth to the baby.

Moreover, she felt that she could do it too, could she do so well without looking at the lotus? Her daughter is so good, and she doesn't want to be too bad. I don't want Xiaoshuang to know nothing when she grows up.

"Go." Li Xiaohan said, "And mom, you don't have to worry about Xiao Shuang. Mom, you are always at home. The pepper base is fried every five days. You can also take care of Xiao Shuang on weekdays. Auntie in the village, that We are busy with all kinds of things at home, look at Sister-in-law Ma, she comes to our house to work every day, and Brother Dou is left at home, isn't that good?"

"That's true." Mrs. Wang had seen Mrs. Ma, and she smiled every day. When she thought about it, she was still at home, what's the problem?

Ma: Of course I'm smiling when I make ten cents a day.

So, it was decided that after the Chinese New Year, Wang would follow Li Xiaohan and learn how to stir-fry sweet pepper base. By almost March, he would be able to take Li Xiaohan's place and partner with Li Hehua.

The whole family has a direction to work towards in the coming year, and this year seems to be more promising.

As the night progressed, none of the three of them felt much sleepiness as they talked about next year.

When it was almost time, the sound of crackling firecrackers came from the patriarch's house at the entrance of the village, and then the sound of firecrackers sounded from all over the village.

Li Xiaohan covered his ears and watched the muffled sound of firecrackers in his yard and the flickering lights.

Twenty-four years of Taihe have passed.

Twenty-five years have arrived.

Above the sky, the ink is thick, the moon is dim, and only a few stars shine on the world. According to the records in the book, the twenty-fifth year of Taihe was the last year of peace and stability.