Village Chief Ma said affectionately: "Brother Si Sheng, please don't call me village chief. My surname is Ma, and I have the same character. How many years am I older than you, so you can call me Brother Ma."

Si Sheng followed the good advice: "Brother Ma." Ma Shun responded with a smile.

The distance between the two people instantly became much closer.

Ma Shun's wife had already rushed into the kitchen and quickly opened the oil paper bag. She saw a yellowish flour-like thing inside. She pulled it twice with her hands and saw that it was also mixed with sesame seeds and walnuts. She took it out

When I got up and smelled it, it was fragrant.

Ma Shun's wife couldn't help but smile, and immediately took out the bowl and started to brew it.

But when I opened the lid of the pot, I found that the water in the pot had not boiled yet, so I went to add firewood to the stove with some disappointment.

At this time, Suxue and Wang Zeran walked in and said obediently: "Mother Ma, shall we help you light the fire?"

Ma Shun's wife was worried that no one would help her, so she was happy to see her two children taking the initiative to work.

Wang Zeran heard Si Sheng and others talking about the topic of learning, so he followed Suxue out. When Suxue said she wanted to help, he took the initiative to sit under the stove and add firewood to the fire. He was already very skilled at this job.

The water was boiling, and Suxue stepped forward to help Ma Shun's wife brew the oil tea.

The boiling water was poured into the bowl, and the rich aroma rushed up to her nose. Ma Shun's wife wrinkled her nose, and before Suxue could stir evenly, she picked up the bowl and took a sip.

Ma Shun's wife liked the taste of the camellia very much. She held the hot food in her mouth and said inarticulately: "It's so delicious."

She took a few sips and said, "This food is so convenient to eat. If you are hungry in the morning or at night, you don't have to cook, you can just make a bowl to satisfy your hunger. It's great."

Ma Shun's daughter-in-law was not afraid of being burned. She finished the bowl in a blink of an eye and smacked her lips with unfinished content.

She quietly walked to the door of the kitchen, looked into the main room, and saw Ma Shun and Si Sheng talking about how good the conversation was, so she walked back and decisively picked up another bowl, which was originally meant for Ma Shun.

Seeing Suxue looking at her, the horse-faced daughter-in-law sneered and said, "This stuff won't taste good when it gets cold."

After saying that, there was a rush of wind and clouds, and the second bowl was also eaten.

After drinking two bowls of oil tea, Ma Shun's wife came to the yard with satisfaction and prepared to grind beans.

Suxue and Wang Zeran also came out to help.

When Wang Zeran came up, he took on the heaviest job of grinding the millstone. Suxue curled her lips, suspecting that he thought it was fun to spin the millstone in circles.

Ma Shun's wife was not polite and allowed the child to grind the mill while she just took a basin and added soybeans to the mill.

Suxue took a breath and had no choice but to go over and push the millstone with Wang Zeran.

The three people, one big, two small, chatted while working.

Following Suxue's topic, Ma Shun's wife talked about the Ma family's situation.

Mashun's family has about ten acres of land, and making tofu is his family's sideline business. Because of this business, his family lives a relatively comfortable life, and is considered a wealthy household in the village.

Usually, Mashun and his wife make tofu at home, and their two older sons go to the county and surrounding villages to sell it.

In the nearby villages, there are only two families who can make tofu, so the Ma family's business is still very good.

Suxue asked casually: "Aunt Ma, in addition to tofu, does your family also make dried tofu, tofu skin and the like?"

Ma Shun's wife asked: "What are dried tofu and tofu skin?", and then said nonchalantly: "We are too busy just selling tofu, how can we have time to do other things."

Wang Zeran gave Suxue a strange look. Suxue was stunned for a moment. Could it be that people here don't know how to make dried tofu and tofu skin?

Ma Shun's wife's mind had already jumped elsewhere. She rolled her eyes and said to Suxue with a smile: "Auntie, I want to ask you, where did you buy this camellia? My natal sister is in confinement, and I want to buy two.

Send some to her."

Suxue had already told her when delivering the oil tea that it was homemade, but Ma Shun's wife still asked this now.

Suxue's eyes flashed and she said with a smile: "Mrs. Ma, there's no place to buy this. Our family makes this by ourselves. It's most suitable for my aunt to eat during the confinement period. If you don't mind it, I'll send two more kilograms over tomorrow."

.”

After hearing this, Ma Shun's wife immediately laughed happily and said, "I don't dislike it, I don't dislike it."

Then he said hypocritically: "Look, I'm so embarrassed. I really wanted to buy it, but I didn't expect to buy it before I did it, and it cost you again."

"What we make at home is not worth anything. It's rare that you like it, auntie."

Suxue looked at Ma Shun's wife and said, "Mother Ma, when we first arrived here, we didn't know a lot of things. I need to have more advice from you in the future."

Seeing Suxue's cautious attitude, Ma Shun's wife was a little worried, thinking that she would start talking loudly after giving two kilograms of camellia oleifera. After hearing what Suxue said, she felt relieved. It was just a reminder. They

He's a local, that's easy to say.

Ma Shun's wife said straightforwardly: "Suxue, your uncle Ma is the village chief and a scholar. No one in this village knows more than him. If you have anything, feel free to ask him."

Seeing Suxue looking at her with admiration, she puffed up her chest and said, "Of course, you can ask me. I know your aunt, and I won't tell you."

Suxue said with a crooked look on her face: "I would like to thank you first, it's nice to meet you. I will bring the oil tea tomorrow, but I don't dare to miss you."

Looking at Suxue's smiling face, Ma Shun's wife was also secretly happy. Today she got two kilograms of camellia oleifera without any effort, and she collected all the gifts for her mother-in-law's sister.

Ma Shun's wife clicked her lips, savoring the scent of camellia oleifera. Although her family was fleeing famine, the rare food they cooked was indeed delicious.

Si Sheng and Ma Shun also talked happily.

Ma Shun felt that he was late to meet Si Sheng, so he told him everything he knew about Si Sheng.

Until Si Sheng walked out of Ma's courtyard, Ma Shun still said with some reluctance: "Brother Si Sheng, come back another day. Let's talk about cursive calligraphy next time."

Si Sheng agreed and pulled Suxue and Wang Zeran away quickly.

He didn't want to talk freely with Ma Shun anymore. He spoke in half-written words, which was so awkward that he almost bit off his tongue.

After leaving Majiazhai, Si Sheng shook his head and said: "It is impossible to settle here, let alone settling. As long as people know that they are refugees, it will be difficult to move, and they may even be sent to prison without even being taken into custody.

Those who help refugees will also be punished. Ma Shun repeatedly told us that we must not let others know that we are fleeing famine, let alone let outsiders know that our family is interacting with people fleeing famine."

Suxue sighed, this was worse than originally expected.

Seeing that Si Sheng was not taking the road back to the abandoned yard, Suxue asked: "Where are we going?"

Si Sheng said: "Yannan Town, today is the market day, let's go there and have a look."

Yannan Town is the largest rural market outside the south gate of Yi County, about ten miles away from Majiazhai.

When Suxue and the others arrived at Yannan Town, it was the busiest time in Jishang.

There is a constant flow of people coming and going in the market. There are many people selling food, making clay figurines, and selling baskets on both sides of the street. The goods are also dazzling and diverse.

The shouts of stall owners, the bargaining sounds of buyers and sellers, the cries of children who can't get what they want, the cries of chickens and ducks, and the gurgling of wheels all made the scene very lively.

Suxue walked along, looking at the ancient market with wonder.

A stall selling wontons on the roadside was very crowded, and the tables in front of the stall were full of diners.
Chapter completed!