The sun has set in the west, dyeing the sunset red on the horizon, as bright as red silk stretched on the top of the mountain in the west.
Xiao Cui stewed cabbage, potatoes, and a small piece of chopped bacon in the pot, and quickly placed the pancake on the edge of the pot.
A ball of corn dough clings to the edge of the pot, then gently presses it with your hands, and the pancake sticks firmly to the edge of the pot.
It has been a while since I came to live in Dalian. Xiaocui has completely adapted to the living habits here and learned the living skills here.
Different from the food in the Gyeonggi area, the food here in Liaodong mainly consists of corn, potatoes and rye flour. Rice is also available, but it is all purchased from outside. The people buy very little and are used to eating corn grits porridge and corn mush.
Tie pancakes are the most common staple food for ordinary people. They are often steamed with rye flour and cornmeal mixed with steamed buns. They are also very delicious. This is Xiaocui's feeling.
There was a sound in the courtyard outside the house. Xiao Cui could hear the creaking of a cart. It must be his brother pulling back the firewood.
Before she could go out to look, Xiaolong had already walked in, picked up the ladle in front of the water tank, scooped out the water and drank it happily.
"There is hot water, don't drink it cold, be careful of getting agitated." Xiaocui said with concern: "There are potatoes in the ashes under the stove. If you are hungry, be prepared. Brother He should be back soon."
Xiaolong wiped his mouth, chuckled, and said: "I met Uncle Wu when I came back. I told him about peeling potatoes. He said I was going to help and he could give me a bag or two of potatoes!"
Xiaocui nodded and said, "Tell him again and I will help him, can you give us more?"
"His family has grown so much, he can definitely give him one or two more bags."
Xiaolong said, sat down in front of the stove, and while helping to light the fire, he took out two roasted potatoes from the ashes. He poured them into the right hand with his left hand. They were so hot that he breathed in, but he still refused to throw them away.
Xiaocui smiled and shook her head. She didn't look so anxious just once or twice, and she didn't even bother to say anything.
However, when Xiaolong broke open the roasted potatoes, the brown flesh and the aroma exuded made her swallow her saliva unconsciously.
It was indeed delicious, and Xiaocui had to admit it. So, she buried several of them in the ashes, but wanted to wait for Brother He to come back and eat them together.
There are also salted fish served as pancakes, which is also delicious. When she was working in a tavern, she had already adapted to chili peppers, but she didn't expect that they were available in every house in Liaodong, hanging in bunches under the eaves until they were red in the sun.
What makes Xiaocui feel the most different is the relationship between neighbors in the village. They help each other and live in harmony, which makes people feel so warm.
She also knew that these neighbors had experienced war, and many of them had even lost loved ones and suffered unforgettable pain.
But when their lives settled down, these people still did not change their simple nature and regained their optimistic spirit.
"I made an appointment with Zhuzi and the others to go up the mountain to pick pine nuts and mushrooms tomorrow." Xiaolong ate the baked potatoes sweetly and said with a smile, "Even if we can't sell them at the market, we can eat the dried mushrooms ourselves."
Xiaocui frowned and said, "I heard that there are wolves on the mountain. You'd better not go there. It's dangerous."
"There are quite a few of us, and we even carry long spears." Xiaolong didn't care, swallowed the food in his mouth, and said, "I wish I could run into any wild animals and kill them for meat."
"Do what you can." Xiao Cui rolled her eyes.
Xiaolong grinned and said: "Sister, don't worry! It's not just us, but also Uncle Feng who went to the mountains to collect medicine. He is carrying a crossbow!"
Xiaocui felt relieved when she heard that an adult was taking care of her.
Young men in the village often meet up to go to the mountains to collect delicacies and medicinal materials to supplement their family income. It has become a very familiar job.
The sound of horse hooves was heard outside, and Xiaolong hurried out to greet him, helped He Guicai lead the horse into the pen, and fed the horse fodder before the two of them talked and entered the house.
"Brother He, please wash your face. The meal will be ready soon." Xiaocui had already filled the water and brought it to He Guizhong.
He Guizhong smiled and nodded, went to wash himself, and then returned to his room, where Xiao Cui diligently brought hot water.
When the food was served, the three of them sat around, chatting casually while eating and drinking.
"Crossbows are not good." He Guizhong shook his head at Xiaolong's request and said, "That's for you, sir. It must be a militia, and it must be trained so as not to accidentally injure anyone."
This was not the first time Xiaolong made this request, so he was not surprised when he was rejected. He shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head to nibble on the brown pancake.
"Brother He is right. When you grow up, he will help you get it." Xiaocui comforted her, smiling and giving her brother a piece of meat.
He Guizhong smiled and said: "My work has not been finalized yet. Guo Shuai will be back in the next few days. I have to follow his arrangements. If I want to change places, you can live here with peace of mind."
Xiaocui hesitated for a moment and said, "Brother He, if it's convenient, we'd better follow you!"
He Guizhong hesitated and said, "We'll talk about it later, there's no rush now."
He Guizhong had returned to the Military Intelligence Department, and he discovered that under Guo Dajing's order, many intelligence personnel had infiltrated into Gyeonggi, Shandong, and even Jiangnan.
He originally thought that with Yuan Chonghuan's downfall, external intelligence work would shrink, but he did not expect that it would turn out to be a larger-scale layout.
Xiaolong raised his head and asked expectantly: "Brother He, Guo Shuai is going back to Dalian, can you see him?"
He Guizhong realized that he had made a mistake, his face became serious, and he said: "Remember, you must never talk about this to others. This is a leak. If it happens, even I will be severely punished."
Xiaolong stuck out his tongue, lowered his head and murmured: "I, I won't tell others. I just want to know if Guo Shuai is like what the storyteller said."
Xiaocui hurriedly changed the subject and said, "Brother He, didn't you tell me that although Guo Shuai is tall and tall, he is only a little taller and stronger than ordinary people, and is not as exaggerated as the storyteller said."
After a pause, she emphasized: "Remember Brother He's words, never tell others about Guo Shuai's return to Dalian, not even those friends."
Xiaolong nodded and said dullly: "I know, I won't tell anyone."
Although Guo Dajing returned to Dalian and did not hide his whereabouts, the disciplines of the Intelligence Department of the Military Intelligence Department were there, and He Guizhong had to strictly abide by them.
If someone else sees or knows something that belongs to someone else, and you reveal it, that would be a violation of discipline and a leak of secrets.
He Guizhong also realized that he was too serious and his tone of speech might be cold. After adjusting his mood, he softened his tone and said: "When I see Guo Shuai, I will ask for a small gift for you and tell him that there is
A man named Xiaolong admires him very much."
Xiaolong's eyes suddenly widened, he looked at He Guizhong in surprise, and said in disbelief: "Really, really."
He Guizhong smiled and nodded, saying: "As long as you don't leak the secret, I can still do this."
"Okay, okay." Xiaolong nodded his head and agreed, "I won't tell anyone else, not even to death."
He Guizhong regained his gentle and approachable expression, changed the subject, and asked about the life of the siblings in the village.
For elderly people such as He Guizhong and Zhou Qing, although they did not have official positions appointed by the court, Dongjiang Town also gave them considerable treatment.
Like He Guizhong, he received a garrison salary, which was equivalent to five times the military salary of ordinary soldiers every month. Not to mention supporting the Xiaocui siblings, even a few more would not be a problem.
But Xiaocui and Xiaolong still hope to earn some money and food as much as possible, and not rely entirely on He Guizhong for their support.
He Guizhong is also trying to find a way for the siblings. In fact, it is the government that is looking for a way out for similar people. Like Sister Wu and Xiaoqin, they are the positions provided by the government.
In addition, the government also opened quilt factories to make clothes, bedding, military shoes, etc. for the army. In view of the transportation conditions at the time, women were also allowed to take raw materials and sew at home.
The opening up of trade with various tribes in Mongolia, the increase in the number of local sheep, the expansion of tussah breeding, and the spinning of wool and silk will provide more jobs for women.
Of course, the government still hopes that single women can find a home as soon as possible. Next, there will be preferential policies for marrying soldiers, as well as policies to encourage childbirth.
"It won't be too late to find a stable source of income for you when my job is finalized." He Guizhong comforted Xiaocui, "No one has starved to death on the territory of Dongjiang Town."
Xiao Cui nodded vigorously. She was not as anxious as she appeared on the surface. As long as Big Brother He was around and she was not lazy, how could she still be without food?
After dinner, He Guizhong urged the Xiaocui siblings to go to night school to study. This is a rule in every village. After more than two years of exploration and practice, it is no longer strange for the people.
It doesn’t take much, a person can learn two or three words a day, and after a year or two, he can almost understand the notices.
The teachers in each village enjoy the same treatment as soldiers, and it is not a problem to support their families. Their level may not be high, but the cultural level of the people also does not have high requirements.
This is true in the village, but the requirements in the army are higher. The diploma system will be implemented next year. If you cannot meet the literacy and calculation requirements, you will not be promoted to an official position.
The reason why it will be implemented next year is to give the officers and soldiers a relatively generous buffer time. It has been two or three years, and no matter how stupid you are, you can still meet the standards that are not high in the first place as long as you use snacks.
This is a measure to increase the interest of officers and soldiers in learning, and it is also an effective means to improve the quality of the military.
What Guo Dajing wants is not only a tiger and wolf division, but also a civilized division. After all, after the Ping Liao annihilation, there will be a domestic campaign. How is the army that burns, kills and loots its compatriots any different from the barbarians?
After dinner, Xiaocui urged Xiaolong to go to night school. She put away the dishes and boiled a basin of hot water to wash He Guizhong's feet.
"I can do it myself." He Guizhong was a little helpless, but his heart was warm. After washing his feet, Xiao Cui took a fine sand tray and sat obediently at the kang table, and was taught how to read and write by He Guizhong.
Although the government has also built paper-making workshops, for ordinary people, paper is still an expensive luxury product. Fine sand trays and wooden sticks are common paper and pens for ordinary people.
Xiaocui only said that she couldn't study at the same time as others in night school, but in fact - well, she liked it. When they were in the capital tavern, He Guizhong taught her and Xiaolong in his free time.
The government not only opened night schools, but also printed textbooks, a small booklet with more than 600 commonly used words, which is the most elementary level. There are also intermediate textbooks in the process of compilation, with about 1,500 to 600 more words.
"Tomorrow, day, planting, land..." Xiaocui wrote seriously on the sand table, He Guizhong smiled and nodded, correcting it from time to time.
As time went by, under the dim oil lamp, the two figures got closer and closer. When He Guizhong started teaching new words, the warm and ambiguous atmosphere became more intense.
In fact, the relationship between the two has developed to this point, and they both have some thoughts, but there is still a thin layer of window paper.
In ancient times, the age gap was not very important, and people would not be criticized or looked down upon by others because of it.
Moreover, in the eyes of later generations, the marriage was also hasty, there was no romantic love, and they were not even seen before the marriage.
Like He Guizhong and Xiao Cui, who have been together for such a long time, the transition from gratitude to dependence is no longer sudden, but a matter of course.
………………
The moonlight was hazy, casting a faint light and shadow through the window lattice, and slowly changing and moving on the ground.
The clouds had stopped raining, and Axiu cuddled timidly in her husband's arms, closing her eyes in peace and contentment, and talking in a low voice.
"The doctor prescribed medicine for conditioning, and I have been taking it for two months." Axiu gently stroked her husband's broad chest and said softly, "I feel more energetic than before."
Guo Dajing felt extremely comfortable and relaxed. He reached out and pinched and touched his wife's plump body a few times. It wasn't until his wife made a cooing sound that he said with a smile: "Not only does it feel stronger, it also feels more substantial to the touch."
.”
Axiu pursed her lips and whispered, "Have you gained weight again, or have you moved less?"
No matter how inactive they are, they are still much better than those who stay at home in later generations. What's more, Axiu's activity level is not small. She basically grows and manages the vegetables in the yard and garden.
"Not fat, just right." Guo Dajing paused and said, "Let's hire a maid or servant at home. Sister-in-law Sun and Sister-in-law Wang have their own homes and are very busy."
"No need?" Axiu was not very willing and said, "I don't have much work to do usually, I can just cook. Yingmei has Aqiao over there. If you think it's not enough, just add another maid for her.
"
Having said that, Guo Dajing cannot make a casual decision. If he hires one, it seems to be dedicated to serving Fujino Hide. If you want to add more, please add two more!
"A maid is not as good as a servant." Guo Dajing pondered for a moment and said, "A middle-aged woman is fine. She can do all kinds of work and has a lot of life experience."
"Well, it's best to hire a cook." Guo Dajing felt that the food should also be upgraded to a higher level. It's not that we don't have the conditions now. There is no shortage of money, and we still have homely meals, which is a bit sorry for the family.
Axiu thought for a while and said, "Let's talk to Sister-in-law Sun and Sister-in-law Wang. After all, we have to spend money to hire people. If they are willing to do it, wouldn't it be just right?"
Since they can earn money, Sister-in-law Sun and Sister-in-law Wang should be willing. The current half-servant model, which does not require wages, is not a long-term solution after all.