Farming Beneath the Changbai Mountains

It is said that after the Laba Festival, it is the New Year. Once the Laba Festival is over, the whole town is filled with the smell of the New Year. Because they still have to prepare for the old man's birthday later in the year, the two brothers Zhixin are even busier.

Zhixin went back to the mountain and asked Li and others to kill some chickens raised on the mountain. He also killed some geese to prepare for the old man's birthday party. It is not easy to kill with a knife during the first month of the year, so you can only prepare it before the year comes. Of course, we must leave some for these two families so that they can eat well during the New Year. There are six pigs left at home, leaving one for these two families, Zhixin brought two back to town, and the rest are breeding pigs and sows.

Zhixin left twenty taels of silver to each family as expenses for the New Year. Anyway, they are all on the mountain in Datou. They can just go down the mountain and buy the remaining bits and pieces.

Zhixin brought Jingxian back to the town this time. Even if he wanted to avoid trouble, he didn't have to be so arrogant. Jingxian was still young after all. At the same time, the four Honglians were also brought back to the town. Now there are no maids to serve them at home. During the Chinese New Year, there will be guests coming and going. It’s hard to let Mrs. Xue and the others serve tea, right?

At this time, a total of three oxcarts were fully loaded, and Guoxing and Ankang drove the oxcarts to the town. It’s just in time to buy some New Year’s goods before heading back to the mountain.

The next day, the two Zhixin brothers and their neighbors killed the pig. Originally, they could be killed in the mountains and brought back, but the old man missed the excitement of killing pigs, so he told Zhixin to kill pigs in the town early in the morning. Now, there were several large pots standing in the yard, some with meat in them, and some with sauerkraut stewed, and the aroma filled the yard.

Wenxuan and Wenchang have stopped going to school since the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month. Together with Wenxing, Jingxian and Jinghe, the yard is full of laughter and laughter, adding to the joy and excitement.

"Uncle Xu, you are so lucky. Look at your four sons, all of them are capable. These grandsons are also strong enough, and I heard they are all doing well in school, which is great. Isn't it just about being popular in life? The population is so prosperous, I feel happy just looking at it." After killing the pig, the old man chatted with the neighbors, one of them said.

"Isn't it? Look, brother Zhixiang is working as an official outside now, and the eldest son of brother Zhixin's family is already a scholar. In two years, he won't be able to pass the imperial exam and come back? By then, let's marry him again A daughter-in-law gives birth to a big fat boy, oh, it’s so lively in this house.” Another one who was slightly younger also said.

After hearing these words, the old man couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. Don't old men of his age just like the festive atmosphere of Sun Mantang here? Now that the life of the family is getting better and better, and the children and grandchildren are all quite promising, the old man feels that his life is worth living. "Why do we live at home? Isn't it just a matter of popularity? At my age, I really have no other hope. It would be great if I could have a great-grandchild."

"Uncle, let me tell you, you really can't be anxious about this. Look at Wenhan, he is a scholar now, and in two years he may be a scholar or a scholar. By then, all girls will be attractive. "Is it your choice? If we decide to get married now, it will only be with a wealthy family in our town, which would be a pity," said the person who spoke first.

The old man shook his head, "These things depend on fate. If Wen Han is optimistic about it, what if she is a farmer's daughter? Our Xu family is also weak. We really can't reach those high-ranking people. As the old saying goes Didn’t you say that you should marry a daughter with your head down and marry a wife at a higher level? It’s better to marry a wife who is similar. The threshold is too high and we can’t afford it. He took a puff of cigarette and continued, "I won't interfere with matters concerning children and grandchildren. As long as they take good care of them, I'll be happy with anything."

Mrs. Chen happened to come over, "Okay, the meat and vegetables are ready. Let's all have a meal together. It will be lively."

So everyone dropped the topic and went to eat the butchered vegetables.

On the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Wen Han and Zixuan came back from the county. Of course, Pengcheng and Jing Ya also came back together. Of course they had to go back to Yue's family first, and they could not return to Xu's family in a few days.

The old man left Zixuan at home to have a meal before leaving. Although Zixuan was thinking about Jinghan, it was already getting late. If he continued to delay, he would have to get home in the dark. Zixuan was afraid that his family would miss him, so he refused the old man's kindness. The old man had no choice but to ask Honglian to call Jinghan, and the two of them would meet and have a few words.

When Jinghan heard that Zixuan was here, she was very happy. She quickly took out a set of clothes she had made for Zixuan recently, and then walked forward. I didn't think it was a big deal when we didn't talk about it before, but now that we've talked about the marriage, Jinghan is thinking about Zixuan. So when I had nothing to do at home, I made clothes for Zixuan. It turns out that the feeling of making clothes for your sweetheart is indeed different. No wonder there are so many girls who are willing to sew for their sweethearts.

When she came to the front and entered the room, she saw Zixuan sitting next to the old man. Jinghan's face turned red uncontrollably, "When did you come back?" Her voice was not as loud as before.

Zixuan looked at Jinghan's shy and timid look, and his heart trembled. Jinghan used to be cheerful and quick-tempered, but she didn't expect to be shy now. The rare charm made Zixuan look straight at her. It took a long time to remember to answer, "I just arrived here not long ago. Grandpa just left me here to eat, but it's getting late, so I have to go home quickly." Zixuan explained.

Jinghan nodded. This is understandable. As a child, filial piety is the most important thing. When Zixuan came back, of course he had to go home quickly to see his parents. "It's okay. Come to town when you have time. The Chinese New Year is coming soon anyway, why don't you help your family with the New Year's shopping?"

"Hey, that's right. I'll come back in a few days."

Jinghan remembered that she still had something in her hand, and quickly handed the baggage to Zixuan, "I made the clothes for you when I had nothing to do. You know my needlework, so just make do with it." Jinghan His personality is like this. After the moment of shyness, he returns to his original temperament.

Zixuan sighed in his heart. Although Jinghan's shy look was very touching, he still liked Jinghan like this. This is what Jinghan is thinking about in his heart. If Jinghan stays like that just now, he really can't accept it.

"Didn't I tell you to do less needlework? It's already dark in winter, so be careful with your eyes." Zixuan took the bundle and was very moved. It was rare that Jinghan had the intention to make clothes for herself.

Jinghan smiled, feeling very happy because of Zixuan's words. "My craftsmanship is not very good to begin with. If I don't practice it, in the future," Jinghan suddenly stopped talking.

But Zixuan understood. It turned out that this little girl was planning for the future. A very satisfying feeling lingers in my heart. What more can a husband ask for when he is married to a wife like this? Zixuan was glad that he had acted earlier, otherwise, he would have regretted it too much.

"I will definitely take good care of these clothes." Zixuan said softly.

"No need. I have nothing to do, so I'll just do it for you. I'll make you a pair of shoes if I have nothing to do in two days. I think your feet are about the same as those of my elder brother."

"If you are free, do it slowly and be careful with your hands. The soles of the shoes are too thick, and I'm worried that you will be too tired." Zixuan felt infinite satisfaction in his heart, but he did not forget to give Jinghan a few words.

"I work all year round, and my hands are very strong, so it'll be fine." Jinghan smiled.

It was indeed getting late, and Zixuan didn't want to leave at all, but his parents were still waiting. So he turned around, said goodbye to the old man, and walked out.

Wenhan and Jinghan sent Zixuan out of the door. Zixuan waved his hand towards Jinghan, "Go back, it's too cold outside, be careful of catching a cold." Then he left.

It wasn't until Zixuan's shadow was no longer visible that the brother and sister turned back and entered the hospital. "Little sister, you are partial. You don't make clothes for eldest brother, but you have to make clothes and shoes for Zixuan. No, I don't care, I also want the clothes you made." Wen Han joked.

Jinghan glanced at Wenhan and smiled mischievously, "Brother, do you think the clothes I made are wearable? Zixuan just couldn't bear to refuse me. Do you really dare to wear the clothes I made?" Humph, if you really do If you dare to ask for it, let me do it for you.

As soon as Wenhan saw Jinghan's expression, he knew that this ghost girl was thinking of bad ideas again. "Forget it, forget it, I'm scaring you. You'd better make it for Zixuan. I'm not afraid of anything else. I'm afraid that you will harm the good cloth." This Jinghan, if she gets some weird clothes then, I really don’t dare to wear it myself.

"Humph, you know what's going on." Jinghan turned her head and ran away with a smile.

Wenhan reluctantly returned to the old man's place and chatted with him. He has been out for a long time. When he comes home, he has to tell the old man what happened outside, right? The provincial old man is worried.

"Grandpa, I am doing well in the county school. Pengcheng has also gone back to school, and the three of us are often together. Jingya sometimes makes delicious food and lets us all go over to eat. The teacher in the county school, They are all very good to us." Wen Han sat next to the old man and talked about some trivial matters.

"Wenhan, you are nineteen this year, and you are looking at twenty. Do you have a girl you like? If so, let's make a decision quickly. Look at Jingya and Jinghan, they are both younger than you. , this is all settled." The old man was also a little anxious and couldn't help but ask his eldest grandson.

"Grandpa, one of my husbands has a daughter. He asked the three of us to go to his house that day." Wenhan's expression was a little uncomfortable.

"You have taken a fancy to someone else's daughter? Isn't that right? How could you see it?" The old man was a little curious. Most families would not let their daughters see their foreign men.

"We didn't see each other at first. The master asked me if Zixuan and I were engaged, and Zixuan said that he was already engaged. Later, the master mentioned it to me and said that he has a daughter at home who is seventeen this year. When we wait When it was time to leave, the girl came out to see off the guests." Wen Han told the story.