The work was almost done, and the sound of people came from outside. We didn’t live too far away, and it was almost time for dinner, so we were anxious to see Guo Dajing. Everyone came happily.
Everyone took some food, including shells, clams, small crabs, freshly dug wild vegetables, etc., as they wished. Sister-in-law Sun and Sister-in-law Wang hurriedly took Guo Dajing out of the kitchen and were busy cooking and lighting the fire with Sister Li Xiu.
Guo Dajing greeted everyone, set up two tables in the courtyard, poured tea, and started laughing and chatting.
"General Guo is back!" Fujino Hide arrived uninvited, greeted everyone with salutes, and moved a stool to sit next to Guo Dajing.
When Sister Li Xiu and the others arrived at Guanglu Island, Fujino Hide entertained them and arranged their stay. During the period when Guo Dajing was away from the island, she visited these people and inquired about their living conditions, which can be said to be her best efforts.
Including Sister Li Xiu, they are not strangers to Fujino Hide, nor do they have any ill feelings toward him. On the contrary, they are very grateful.
Guo Dajing didn't take it seriously, smiled, handed her a cup of tea, and continued talking about his arrangements.
Xiao Ni was helping out in the kitchen, but her eyes lit up when she saw Fujino Hide. She quietly walked to her side and stood obediently behind Fujino Hide.
Guo Dajing was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Xiaoni seemed to be very close to Fujino Hide, but he glanced at them and said nothing.
Of course he didn't know what Xiaoni was thinking. Seeing that Hide Fujino could become an official and the soldiers saluted her, the little girl was extremely envious.
When I grow up, I want to be like her. I look majestic in military uniform, and I can see Brother Jing every day. How great!
Fujino Hide smiled kindly, hugged Xiao Ni, let her lean into his arms, and half sat on her lap.
"Although one day is rushed, it is still enough." Chen Youshan didn't want to delay it any longer. It was an auspicious day, and he didn't know how long it would be delayed. He didn't hear Guo Dajing say that he might have to lead troops to fight again.
Zhao Qingshan nodded in agreement, having the same thought as Chen Youshan, "I have been preparing for it, and it is not a big deal. It will be no problem to get married the day after tomorrow."
Guo Dajing prepared some scattered silver, took it out and put it on the table, distributed it to everyone, and said: "On the day of the wedding, in addition to us fellow villagers, there were more than a dozen officers in the army. What about the meat and wine?
, I will prepare the chicken, duck, fish, vegetables, etc., just help me buy some."
Chen Youshan nodded and said to everyone: "Take them all and spend the rest and return them to Dajing."
When Guo Dajing saw that the wedding matters had been explained and the meals had not yet been prepared, he took the time to outline the future arrangements for several villagers.
There are not many government affairs on the island, that is, civil affairs, which are farming, salting, fishing, and workshops.
Now, Guo Dajing wants to increase the production of soil and saltpeter and raise aquatic products. The workshop also needs to be subdivided into two parts: firearms and cold weapons.
In order to increase production and ensure quality, reward and punishment measures have been formulated, but who will inspect, who will supervise, and whether fairness and justice can be guaranteed are matters that Guo Dajing is more concerned about.
For example, the workshop is currently using purchased iron materials to make iron masks, and Guo Dajing can only determine the excess reward based on the average quantity.
Obviously, this does not reassure him that work efficiency can be improved again.
"Brother Zhao, Brother Wang, and Sanxiang are mainly responsible for checking the quality and counting the quantities in the workshop." Guo Dajing assigned them one by one, which can be regarded as based on their specialties, not randomly. "According to the reward and punishment regulations, the craftsmen will be paid in full.
Receive food strips."
"Uncle Chen can write and do calculations, so he manages the money and food. You are responsible for distributing food and silver. Guo is the most at ease."
Chen Youshan gnawed his head, stroking his beard with a look of relief. This was Guo Dajing's trust. He had a heavy responsibility in managing money and food, and was equivalent to the steward of Guanglu Island.
"Sihe is responsible for collecting and brewing the saltpeter, Brother Sun..." Guo Dajing had just finished the arrangements, and the food was ready and served hot.
There was a big table for men and a small table for women. They were eating and drinking while talking, and laughter could be heard from time to time in the courtyard.
What Guo Dajing pays most attention to is money, food, and the production and manufacturing of the workshop. It is not that he wants to place all these folks in various departments. After observing some of them, Guo Dajing, the manager, is quite relieved.
The key point is that he is here for himself, so he can arrange an errand so that people can have enough to eat. With these few people, Guo Dajing still has nothing to worry about.
"Spicy." Fujino Hide was very interested in the copycat version of spicy chicken. Although he breathed heavily, the more he ate, the more delicious it became.
When Guo Dajing heard her comment, he just smiled slightly and became more interested in growing peppers.
Chili pepper is a good thing, not only to enhance the flavor of cooking, but also to warm the body and keep out the cold.
For soldiers, spirits are a luxury product. You can bring a few dried chili peppers and chew them when the weather is cold, which can have a similar effect.
There are still things to be busy with tomorrow. Although wine is a good thing, no one drinks too much. On the contrary, they eat all the food with great effort.
After having enough food and wine, everyone said goodbye and left together without staying too long, allowing Guo Dajing to have a good rest.
Sister-in-law Sun and Sister-in-law Wang were busy cleaning up and washing the dishes before going to the front yard. Their jobs were equivalent to those of servants and maids, although neither Sister Li Xiu nor Guo Dajing would see it that way or call them that.
After seeing off all the villagers, Xiaoni and Li Xiucheng also went back to their respective houses. Guo Dajing looked at Sister Li Xiu, who was a little overwhelmed, smiled slightly, and generously returned to his room in the main house.
The oil lamp was lit, Guo Dajing spread out paper on the table, took a quill, and made a list of people he wanted to invite to the wedding banquet.
As soon as the door opened, Sister Li Xiu came in with a wooden basin and placed it in front of Guo Dajing's feet. She turned around and went out, carrying a kettle and pouring water for washing feet.
Even a simple job requires two trips to complete!
"Sit down and talk for a while." Guo Dajing pointed to the chair with a smile and said, "I heard from Uncle Chen that you know a lot of words?"
Sister Li Xiu nodded and said sheepishly: "I don't know many, and I can write even fewer, only about a hundred or so."
"That's not too much." Guo Dajing showed the list to Sister Li Xiu and said, "Here, read it and see which one you don't know. I will teach you when I have time in the future."
Sister Li Xiu smiled shyly, took the list, and read it one by one.
"Not bad, very good." Guo Dajing nodded repeatedly and praised, "In at most one year, reading will be no problem."
Sister Li Xiu pursed her lips and said, "Then you teach well and I will learn well."
As she said that, she pointed to Guo Dajing's quill pen and asked: "What kind of pen is this? It looks like goose feathers. Brother Guo doesn't use a quill pen?"
Guo Dajing didn't blush and said calmly: "It's just a goose quill pen. It's easy to use. It's too difficult to practice writing with calligraphy. Come on, try it."
Sister Li Xiu took the quill pen, played with it twice curiously, tried scratching on the paper, frowned slightly, and wrote her name.
"I am opportunistic and can't get on the stage." Guo Dajing chuckled and said, "You should practice calligraphy instead of being lazy and slippery like me."
"Brother Guo is busy with official duties and doesn't have much time." Sister Li Xiu defended Guo Dajing: "It's not laziness or slipping up."
Guo Dajing stretched out his hand to hold Sister Li Xiu's broken arm and said, "Let me see if it is completely healed. Has the medicine left for you been used up long ago?"
Sister Li Xiu stood up following Guo Dajing's hand, struggled a little, then obeyed, and said softly: "It's fully grown, and it doesn't hurt at all."
Even though the wound had completely healed, it was still shocking to look at.
Guo Dajing stroked her gently and said slowly: "There is no need to hide in front of others in the future. You are my wife, Guo Dajing. Who dares to look down on you?"
"No, no one looks down on me." Sister Li Xiu's eyes were red and her voice was trembling.
Guo Dajing knew that because of his relationship, Axiu was living a good life, but the girl felt miserable!
He held Axiu in his arms distressedly. Sister Li Xiu resisted subconsciously. But in the strong arms, she gave up her resistance.
Guo Dajing put out the oil lamp, and the faint moonlight shone through the window lattice on the table, the floor, and the kang, giving off a hazy and warm atmosphere.
………………
The rooster's crow in the early morning was an ancient alarm bell. Guo Dajing's eyelids moved, feeling the warmth in his arms. He was really too lazy to get up.
I haven't slept in for many days. No wonder there is a poem like "From now on, the king will never go to court early". It smells so good!
Judging from Axiu's breathing, the girl has woken up and is pretending to sleep with her eyes closed. Maybe she is shy, maybe she is happy, maybe...
The door of the room suddenly rang, and Guo Dajing opened his eyes. Axiu was so frightened that he almost sat up. When their eyes met, Axiu's face was filled with red clouds, and she suddenly got into the bed, even hiding her head.
Be strict.
"Brother Jing——" Xiaoni knocked on the door and shouted: "Get up quickly, I remembered something very important and important. I want you to..."
"Xiao Ni, please wait for a moment, I'll be out soon." Guo Dajing rolled his eyes helplessly, turned over and sat up, and took his clothes.
"Then hurry up, I'll wait for you in the courtyard." Xiaoni's footsteps sounded as she left the door.
Guo Dajing quickly put on his clothes and got off the ground. He glanced at the bulging quilt again, couldn't help but smile, and gave him a light slap through the quilt before walking out with satisfaction.
Xiaoni not only waited in the courtyard, but also brought Guo Dajing face wash.
Guo Dajing was not polite. While washing, he asked: "What's the important matter? I don't want anyone to sleep in."
Xiaoni looked serious and said solemnly: "It's my name, isn't it important?"
Name?! Guo Dajing wiped his face and understood something.
At that time, boys were favored over girls, especially in rural villages, where many female children were quite old and did not even have big names.
"Xiao Ni, Xiao Ni's is already eight years old!" Xiao Ni looked troubled and said, "I don't want Mr. Chen to pick it up. I want Brother Jing to think it sounds good!"
That's it——
Guo Dajing scratched his head and asked uncertainly: "Are you a girl from the Huang family?"
Xiaoni nodded and said, "My father's surname is Huang, my mother's surname is Rong, and my ancestral home is Tai'an, Shandong."
Such a coincidence?! That would save trouble, um, no need to worry about it.
Guo Dajing's eyes lit up and he said, "Then your name is Huang Rong!"
Xiao Ni blinked her eyes, feeling that what Brother Jing said was a bit perfunctory, so she couldn't help pouting and frowning, staring at Guo Dajing, expressing her dissatisfaction with her expression.
Haha, haha. Guo Dajing laughed twice and made amends, explaining: "It's not the glory of glory, it's the rong of hibiscus. Hibiscus is the lotus, which represents beauty and purity."
The corners of Xiaoni's lips pursed, feeling quite moved.
"Hibiscus comes out of clear water, and the carvings are naturally removed." Guo Dajing continued to seduce: "The poem about hibiscus written by Li Bai, the great poet of the Tang Dynasty, has been passed down through the ages!"
Xiao Ni laughed and said, "Why not call her Huang Furong?"
It's just right to have Rong. It's easy to have bad associations when it comes to everything.
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "It's beautiful to be subtle, but it's vulgar to say it too bluntly. Zhang Hehua, Li Mudan, it sounds indecent."
Oh, Xiaoni believed it, and her little head was so happy.
"As for the nickname, it's Ronger. Doesn't it sound very pleasant and elegant?" Guo Dajing chuckled, took a straw stick and wrote the three words "Huang Xiaorong" on the ground.
Xiaoni looked at it carefully, clapped her hands and said with a smile: "I can write the yellow character, and the rong character is also simple. The top is grass, and the bottom is easy."
"Sister Xiu taught me this." Xiaoni jumped up to Guo Dajing and hugged Guo Dajing's arm. Her little face was full of pride and pride. "When I grow up, I will work as a clerk for you, like Hide Fujino."
That way.”
Guo Dajing touched Ronger's head and said: "Then you have to study hard and be able to write and calculate to be qualified!"
At this time, Sister Li Xiu came out neatly dressed, glanced at Guo Dajing, her face flashed red, and called to Xiaoni, "Xiaoni, follow me to the kitchen to heat up the leftover food from last night."
"Call me Ronger." Xiaoni told Sister Li Xiu with pride on her face, "Brother Jing named me Huang Xiaorong. The word "Rong" means "beauty."
Sister Li Xiu was stunned for a moment, then she laughed and said: "Okay, Ronger is such a little beauty, now you can make breakfast with me!"
"Okay!" Huang Xiaorong jumped up and followed, as light as a cheerful bird.
Children's happiness is so simple. Guo Dajing's eyes were filled with tenderness and a bit of envy.
But when he noticed that Sister Li Xiu's walking posture was a little weird, he just thought about it for a moment, smiled bitterly, and felt a little guilty in his heart.
She was a little too forceful last night, she should have been more gentle. Sister Li Xiu bit the corner of the quilt without saying a word. She might be shy, but she was still enduring the pain.
Guo Dajing stood up, walked quickly to the kitchen, and said to Sister Li Xiu: "Axiu, you come in and rest while I cook the meal."
Sister Li Xiu was stunned for a moment, straightened up and turned her head. She noticed Guo Dajing's gaze and blushed, but she did not obey. She said angrily: "How can a grown man make a fire to cook? Don't say that in the future."
Say this and do this."
Rong'er was sitting in front of the stove, adding firewood, and laughed when she heard the sound: "Mr. Chen said that it is virtuous for men to take charge of the outside and women to take charge of the house, and women do all the work in the house."
"Get out!" Sister Li Xiu came closer, gently pushed Guo Dajing, and said softly and shyly: "I'm fine, you don't have to worry."
Guo Dajing nodded helplessly, patted Sister Li Xiu's hand gently, turned around and walked out.