When the pears are green

From October onwards, we will officially enter winter.

Jiang Qingzhou looked at the dim sky outside the window, he quietly got up and dressed. Just when he was about to tuck in the quilt for Song Li who was still sleeping, Song Li opened her eyes.

"I'm sorry to wake you up. Go back to sleep. It's still early." Jiang Qingzhou said softly to Song Li.

Song Li rubbed her eyes, then touched Jiang Qingzhou's hand and said, "No, you and Qingye should wear something thicker to avoid catching a cold. Go quickly and don't let Qingye wait anxiously."

Jiang Qingzhou turned and walked out. He put the prepared paper clothes, paper shoes and hats into the basket, and went with Jiang Qingye to deliver winter clothes to Jiang's father and mother.

After Song Li washed up, she walked into the yard and looked at the bare branches and the gray sky. She put her hands to her mouth and blew some air. She first ran around the yard twenty times, then ran into the kitchen, washed her hands and prepared to make breakfast.

Jiang Qingzhou and Jiang Qingye came back before breakfast was ready.

Song Li hurriedly poured out the boiled ginger water and handed it to Jiang Qingzhou and Jiang Qingye respectively. Jiang Qingzhou took the bowl and walked to the stove and sat down. He drank the ginger water while adding firewood.

"Why so soon? I thought you would stay a little longer!" Song Li asked Jiang Qingzhou in surprise.

Jiang Qingzhou put the empty bowl on the stove. He looked at Jiang Qingye and said with a smile, "The weather is too cold. I came back after burning the paper. I was afraid that if Qingye caught a cold, my parents would talk to me at night."

Song Li and Jiang Qingye were both amused by Jiang Qingzhou's words. Song Li laughed for a while, then said to them, "Now that you have finished drinking, go out for a run. The meal will be ready soon."

Jiang Qingzhou and Jiang Qingye stood up and walked out of the kitchen. The sound of running could be heard in the yard.

During the meal, Song Li said to Jiang Qingzhou: "Qingzhou, there is no need to buy more beans. We will not grow bean sprouts until the beans at home are well grown. The weather is getting colder, and the chances of success of bean sprouts are too small. We will sell bean sprouts when the weather is warmer next year."

"Well, the village head said a few days ago that he would organize villagers to reclaim wasteland, so let's go. I heard that the reclaimed wasteland will be tax-free within three years and half-tax within five years. Even if we only reclaim one acre and grow some vegetables or something, it would be fine." Jiang Qingzhou said.

After hearing this, Song Li and Jiang Qingye both nodded.

Jiang Qingzhou thought about it, and then he continued: "Xiao Li, I can go to the market by myself. You and Qingye can stay at home. The weather is too cold, and I don't want you to suffer with me."

Before Song Li could say anything, Jiang Qingye burst out laughing.

Jiang Qingzhou and Song Li looked at Jiang Qingye at the same time. Jiang Qingye reached out to wipe the noodle soup from his mouth. He whispered, "I'm Xiao and his sister-in-law have a good relationship. I'm done eating. I'll go out first."

Jiang Qingye quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, then ran out with half a steamed bun.

Seeing this, Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou both laughed softly.

Song Li wanted to send Jiang Qingzhou to the village entrance, but Jiang Qingzhou disagreed. After Jiang Qingzhou carried the basket of bean sprouts, Song Li put on the simple gloves she made for Jiang Qingzhou, and then put the basket of eggs in his hands.

Song Li stood at the door and said to Jiang Qingzhou: "It's too cold today. If business is slow, don't wait there. Come back if you see no one. Got it?"

Jiang Qingzhou looked at Song Li who was advising him like a child, and said with a smile: "I know, Xiaoli, don't worry!"

Song Li watched Jiang Qingzhou walk away. She said hello to the neighbors passing by and gently closed the gate.

Although there is a wall to block the cold wind, it is still a bit cold in the yard.

Song Li looked at the window that was humming in the wind, and she called Jiang Qingye out.

"Qingye, let's make some rain curtains with corn stalks and hang them on the windows. Then the house will be relatively warmer in winter. Just like weaving curtains with sorghum stalks, can you do it?" Song Li asked Jiang Qingye with a smile.

Jiang Qingye thought about it for a while, scratched his head, and said to Song Li embarrassedly: "Sister-in-law, I have seen others make up stories, but I have never made one myself, so I am not sure if I can do it."

"It's okay. You've seen it before, but I haven't. Let's try it out together and maybe we'll be able to do it. Let's go pick up some straw first." After saying that, Song Li, with a face full of fighting spirit, took Jiang Qingye to the shed where the corn stalks were stored.

The two of them quickly picked up some straw. Song Li cut off both ends of the straw and then rinsed it with water.

Jiang Qingye gathered the straws together, and Song Li quickly threaded them together with needle and thread. Song Li felt very proud as she watched the straws becoming more and more solid. She wanted to wait for Jiang Qingzhou to come back and make sure Jiang Qingzhou praised her and Jiang Qingye.

In order to prevent Jiang Qingye from being bored, Song Li taught Jiang Qingye to recite Tang poems while she worked.

Song Li taught seriously and Jiang Qingye also learned seriously.

By the time Song Li and Jiang Qingye finished making the four rain curtains, Jiang Qingye had already learned five or six Tang poems, including quatrains and regulated verses.

Song Li and Jiang Qingye moved the finished rain curtains under the window to dry in the sun so that they could be hung on the windows at night.

Song Li remembered that Jiang Qingzhou had said that in winter, eggs could be sold for three cents each. She smiled and looked at the dozen or so hens at home, as if she saw them pecking at copper coins.

Song Li asked Jiang Qingye: "Qingye, did you build sheds for the chickens in the winter before?"

"Sister-in-law, we didn't work together before. Let's wait until the last big market before the New Year. Except for two or three chickens for the New Year, my brother will sell the rest of the chickens." Jiang Qingye thought for a while and said to Song Li.

Song Li complained about Jiang Qingzhou in her heart, then smiled and said to Jiang Qingye: "Qingye, I want to build a shed for the chickens, so that we can sell eggs in winter."

"But, sister-in-law, what do chickens eat in winter?" Jiang Qingye asked Song Li puzzledly.

Song Li was stunned. Yes, even if the problem of keeping warm was solved, the problem of chicken feed could not be solved. No wonder Jiang Qingzhou, who was so smart, didn't build a shed for the chickens. Forget it.

Song Li smiled at Jiang Qingye a little awkwardly, then looked up at the hazy sun. It was still some time before noon.

Song Li tied the cloth she had prepared to the window and asked Jiang Qingye to stand three meters away to practice throwing sandbags. She opened the door to the main room, put the sewing basket at the door, and supervised Jiang Qingye while sewing cotton clothes.

Jiang Qingye once curiously asked Song Li why he did this. Song Li smiled and told him that this was a way to pass the time in peacetime and a way to survive in times of chaos.

Time passed slowly, and Song Li looked outside the door anxiously. She was afraid that Jiang Qingzhou would wait in the market because he wanted to sell something.

Song Li told Jiang Qingye to cook at home, while she hurried to Heihe Town.

Song Li, who was about to reach Heihe Town, met Jiang Qingzhou who was rushing home. When Jiang Qingzhou saw Song Li, he hurried over, grabbed her hand and asked, "Xiao Li, why are you here?"

"I'm afraid you're stupid!" Song Li said in a low voice.

"How could that be? I sold all the things and bought some things for my parents' house tomorrow, so I was delayed." Jiang Qingzhou said to Song Li.

"is it?"

"Yeah, when have I ever lied to you? Let's go back!"

Jiang Qingzhou ignored the looks of others and pulled Song Li home.