A dark curtain enveloped the earth, and the spring evening wind rushed out of the mountains eagerly, running back and forth between the farmland and the village, leaving behind a whirling sound, and the simple Ping An Village became increasingly tainted with a quiet night.
breath.
But the atmosphere in Jiang's courtyard tonight was particularly lively, so lively that Jiang Hexi couldn't bear it.
"Sister, when did you learn how to make wine? Also, sister, why did you suddenly learn how to make cement? Why didn't I know?" Jiang Hexuan observed Jiang Hexi carefully for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out, so he simply asked directly.
Hearing this, Jiang Hexi stiffened and stared blankly at two identical curious faces. She was silent for a moment, and then said dryly: "Well, that's what dad told me before. He once saved a man when he was young.
Strange man, in order to repay dad, that strange man gave dad a recipe that incorporated all his life's income to benefit the country and the people, but dad later accidentally lost the heavenly book."
"But fortunately, my father once told me about some things in the book and said they were very important, so I kept them in mind."
"But why did dad never tell me this?" Jiang Heyun, who had been listening obediently, sat up straight and pouted, dissatisfied.
Jiang Hexi smiled awkwardly, touched her earlobe, and said: "You are too young to remember it. There is no point in telling you. You can only tell me."
"Besides, that happened when I was a child. You two were not born yet! How could dad tell you?" Jiang Hexi was afraid that they would ask more questions, so she hurriedly shouted loudly.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Heyun suddenly understood and nodded.
However, Jiang Hexuan was still a little skeptical, and then asked: "But sister, haven't you always liked cooking? Why do you like cooking more and more recently?"
"That's right! My mother used to cook, and my sister refused to go into the kitchen every time. Even if my mother forced you, you wouldn't learn, but my sister has become so fond of cooking now!" Jiang Heyun said in a sweet voice.
Qi added.
Jiang Hexi's scalp became more and more numb. Suddenly an idea came to her. She rolled her eyes and lowered her head as if to swallow: "Isn't there nothing we can do about it? My parents are gone. I can only support this family. If I still
If you refuse to enter the kitchen, we will starve to death! Ugh."
When they saw Jiang Hexi actually crying, the two of them no longer dared to ask questions and hurriedly came over to comfort her.
"Sister, I was wrong, I will never ask again." Jiang Hexuan regretted it and promised loudly.
"Sister, it's all my fault. Just hit me! Stop crying." Jiang Heyun wiped the non-existent tears from the corner of his eyes with his chubby hand and comforted her with a cry.
"Yeah." Jiang Hexi lowered her head and responded, secretly breathing a sigh of relief and finally uncovering it.
Liuying came out of the room after hearing the noise and looked at the three people hugging each other in confusion.
"Liu Ying, wait for me for a while, I have something to tell you." As soon as Jiang Hexi saw Liu Ying coming out, she immediately got up and walked into her room.
Liuying had no choice but to sit down and wait for her obediently, and touched the little heads of the two boys.
After a while, Jiang Hexi walked out holding two nanmu boxes.
"Liu Ying, do you remember those seeds I asked you to put in the cellar last fall?"
Liuying nodded subconsciously.
Jiang Hexi smiled with satisfaction and continued: "I plan to plant these seeds this year. You can help me take out these seeds tomorrow, and then go to Li Zheng's house to buy some land. This is money."
Liuying took it and said curiously: "Girl, do you really want to plant the seeds that Li Tiezhu brought back? Didn't Sister Hehua say that those seeds will not bear fruit? You'd better not plant them, so as not to waste your energy."
"No, those are all good things. It's just because Sister Hehua doesn't know how to grow them. I will definitely grow delicious things for you when the time comes." Jiang Hexi waved her hand and said with a mysterious smile.
"I want to eat delicious food, and my sister must grow it!" As soon as he heard about the delicious food, Jiang Heyun immediately became energetic and was the first to raise his hands in approval.
"I believe that sister will definitely succeed." Jiang Hexuan also expressed his attitude.
When Liuying saw that the other three people had agreed, although she was still a little worried, she also knew Jiang Hexi's stubborn temper, so she stopped saying frustrating words and nodded.
"Also, take the money and go to Brother Li tomorrow and find a few more helpers to collect grain from nearby villages. The more the better, I will use it to make wine."
"I will have to keep an eye on the wine shop tomorrow and I can't get away. If you don't understand anything, you can discuss it with Brother Li then." Thinking of Liu Ying's noisy temper, Jiang Hexi added uneasily.
"Don't worry, girl! I will definitely handle this matter beautifully!" When Liuying saw that Jiang Hexi had entrusted such an important task to her, she was very excited and hurriedly agreed.
"Also, I have promised Brother Li that he will bring some veterans here. From now on, they will be the first batch of workers in our brewery. You should watch carefully and don't let other workers bully them. The money in this box
, it’s the next meal expenses, you have collected them.”
"Girl, you are so kind!" Liuying immediately hugged Jiang Hexi and shouted.
Seeing Jiang Hexi looking at her doubtfully, Liuying sniffed and said with red eyes: "Girl, you don't know, our Huo family army also has many soldiers who were disabled due to fighting on the battlefield. Although they have received a pension, but
The imperial court’s pensions for retired soldiers are not large.”
"Every year, the general subsidizes them with a large amount of money, but the money will always be spent. Most of them cannot find work because of their physical disabilities. They can only guard one-third of an acre of land at home, and even the family
Without land, we can only sit and eat!”
Seeing Liu Ying swallowing harder, Jiang Hexi hurriedly took out the handkerchief from her sleeve, gently wiped the tears on her cheeks, and said softly: "Then you go and tell General Huo, and you can let those soldiers do it in the future.
Come to my place, I will find work for them, and I will not treat them badly!"
"Girl, girl." Liu Ying burst into tears, hugging Jiang Hexi and crying.
Seeing Liu Ying looking so sad, Jiang Heyun and Jiang Hexuan couldn't help but secretly lowered their heads and wiped away tears.
For a moment, the atmosphere became quite sad.
"Girl, I'm sorry, I lost my composure." After coming over for a while, Liu Ying wiped her face in embarrassment, still crying.
"It's okay." Jiang Hexi said gently.
"Girl, I want to thank you on behalf of the soldiers!" As she said that, Liuying suddenly knelt down.
This moment frightened Jiang Hexi. He quickly helped her up and said urgently: "Liu Ying, get up quickly. What are you doing? If you do this again, how can I dare to ask you to do things for me in the future?"
Hearing this, Liuying immediately stood up, hugged Jiang Hexi and said coquettishly: "Girl, please don't leave me! I will depend on you for the rest of my life!"
Jiang Hexi nodded Liu Ying's nose, dumbfounded, but said nothing.
The evening breeze outside the window was still beating against the wooden windows, making the atmosphere in the house seem to be getting more and more silent. However, the sadness just now seemed to be just a few people's illusion. It had disappeared with the evening breeze, and for a while, only a thick feeling remained.
Warmth and warmth.
The first ray of morning light is reflected in the small courtyard of the Jiang family, reflecting on the slender back of the girl in plain clothes.
"Miss Jiang, are you at home?" There was a regular knock on the door, followed by a woman's shout.
Jiang Hexi put down what she was doing, wiped her hands, and hurried to the door to open the door.
"Jing Niang, come in quickly, why are you here? What's the matter?" Jiang Hexi looked at Jing Niang in green who was rarely visiting her in surprise, but she immediately and warmly invited her into the house.
As soon as she sat down, Jing Niang couldn't help but tell her the purpose of coming today.
"Miss Jiang, it's like this. I am the only teacher in our private school now, but for some reason recently, the people in the village actually agreed to send the little girls to study, saying that it doesn't matter if they can learn a few words.
It’s better than being blind!”
"In the past, no matter how you and I tried to persuade them, they ignored them. But now, they are all rushing over in a swarm!" Speaking of this, Jing Niang was sweet and worried at the same time, and her mood was very complicated.
"But I am the only wife in the village and there is not enough manpower at all. What should I do now?" Jing Niang was so anxious when she thought about the several villagers crowding in front of her house trying to send the little girl to a private school.
Jiang Hexi's expression relaxed after hearing this, her tone of voice rose unconsciously, and she said, "I guess it's because recently I asked Lan Hua to learn how to read with me? The people in the village probably know that I want to train her to be the shopkeeper of a knitting workshop. This
Now, if you have young ladies at home, you will naturally want to send them to learn how to read, and maybe you want them to be able to do something in the future."
"Jing Niang, this is a good thing! We should be happy."
Jing Niang smiled bitterly and said: "Miss Jiang, I know this is a rare good thing, but I am the only one in the private school, so I can't put boys and girls in the same room to teach, right? The villagers just want me to separate them.
, but I only have two hands, how can I do this!"
"It's okay. I will find a helper for you when the time comes. Just look for a wife to come back. You can go back first! I will definitely find one for you in the next few days." Jiang Hexi comforted patiently.
After hearing the promise, Jingniang finally felt relieved and said gratefully, "I'll trouble you, Miss Jiang."
"it's okay no problem."
After sending Jing Niang away, Jiang Hexi no longer had the intention to continue playing with these seeds, and was only thinking about how to find a good wife.
At this time, Chen Shuanzi, who was helping to feed the chickens in the backyard, ran out.
"Sister Xi, I have fed the chickens and ducks. Let me help you with the seeds!"
Jiang Hexi came back to her senses and said with a smile: "Okay! You can help me peel all this corn into corn kernels, yes, that's it."
Chen Shuanzi carefully peeled the corn according to Jiang Hexi's instructions.
"Shuanzi, do you know if there are any knowledgeable masters in these ten miles and eight villages?" After hesitating, Jiang Hexi decided to ask about Chen Shuanzi, who had been living in the county town.