My 1995 Small Farm

   Chapter 124 Hot

   "Don't worry, Yuqiang is going to move the ladder. First cut off the branches and everything."

   "Uncle Rich, Ladder."

   "Okay, Brother Xian, stop for a while, we have to saw off the tree first."

  Wang Lixian and others stopped what they were doing. A few young people leaned the ladder of Chen Ling's house and the ladder of Chen Yuqiang's house against two trees, and then climbed up with hatchets and saws and began to clear the branches.

   "Hey, this guy, there are so many bird nests on the tree."

   "Me too, I just touched the bird droppings on my hand."

   "Uncle Dajiang, Uncle Dajiang, are there any eggs on the tree?"

   "There are no eggs, there will be no eggs hatching on a hot day, it's about to be sawed, hurry up and stay away, be careful to hit you."

  To chop down such a big tree, you must first use a hatchet to clean up those small branches and leaves, then saw off the branches, and then chop down the trunk.

   There are many people here today, and the work is fast. The two old locust trees were brought down in more than half an hour.

After Chen Dazhi pulled the two trees out with a donkey cart full of branches and leaves, Chen Ling looked back and forth and said, "The roots of the trees are no longer digging, these two trees have been around for decades, and the trees have deep roots. It’s time-consuming and laborious to plan, and it’s just a waste of time.”

   "That's just to save trouble, Brother Xian has prepared the iron rod and hook, let's start the grill."

   As he was talking, the blue tiles on the roof of the old house slipped down, and everyone was startled.

   "Damn it, this half-battered house is scary."

   "Li Xian, let's talk about how to pick it up. The previous method of picking it up will definitely not work. Most of these main rooms have collapsed. If you go to lift the roof, it will easily hurt people."

Except for the main room, Wang Lixian of the old houses in other places first lifted the roof, removed the purlins, beams, etc., and then removed the load-bearing, and finally removed the wall. He wanted to save the materials for Chen Ling. More, it can be used when Chen Ling wants to build two rooms in the field.

   Originally, the main room was going to be demolished like this, but now it seems to be impossible.

   As the saying goes: "An old house has been built for a hundred years, and it can't stand a towering three swaying."

The meaning of    is simple.

  Many old houses in the countryside look crumbling, as if they are about to collapse, but as long as no one demolishes them and is not affected by any major disturbances, they may not collapse for decades.

   But as long as the wall is bumped back and forth a few times, or the foundation is implicated, it will easily collapse.

   Now the old house of Chen Ling's family is like this.

   After being submerged by the flood, two big trees fell to the ground one after another just now, and the half-collapsed main house was shaken to some extent, and people could not stand it and climbed up and slowly demolished it.

  Wang Lixian heard this and looked at Chen Ling: "Fugui, make up your mind."

   "It's too dangerous, it's easy to hit people, so it's a waste to just rip it off."

  Chen Ling shook his head: "I unloaded the ox cart and I will dismantle it together with you."

So Chen Ling took the cow and shouted with the crowd. Using iron hooks and iron bars, they tripped over the wall of the old house. Several waves of people pulled the long ropes together and tried hard together, but few went back and forth. , the old house collapsed one after another, and the dust was flying.

   "There are still two sections of the courtyard wall in the east that have not collapsed. We are rich and noble, so let's go and push that side."

After the demolition of the old house, Chen Dazhi saw that there were still two sections of the fence on the east side of the yard that had not completely collapsed, so he called Chen Ling to tear it down.

   "No, I'll do it alone."

  Chen Ling waved his hand, walked over and kicked up with both feet, and the two sections of the earth wall were knocked down.

   "Wow, Uncle Fugui's feet are stronger than a donkey's kick." Liu Ni'er clapped her hands and shouted, causing everyone to laugh.

   "Go away, people won't praise you."

  Wang Lixian glared at him and reprimanded him, and then he was afraid that they would not run wild here, so he said: "You guys go back some grass, feed the cows and donkeys, and buy you popsicles at noon."

"it is good."

   Hearing that there were popsicles, the little boys' eyes lit up. They went to the front yard to ask for a basket for Wang Susu, so they happily went outside the village to cut grass.

There are quite a lot of people here today, not only the men, but also the mother-in-law brought over, helping Wang Susu in the front yard to mix the noodles and steam the buns, and some like Sister-in-law Xiuying, who brought their sister Wang Xiuhua to lead the people. Go to each household to borrow tableware, table benches, etc.

   After a while, groups of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law rushed over with baskets full of tableware, porcelain basins, benches, and tables.

   These things are spared in every household, but many of them are not usually used, they are dirty, and they are full of mud and dust, so they need to be cleaned in advance.

   "Xiuying, are the tableware and stools marked?"

   "Don't worry, auntie, there are marks, so you can tell who belongs to."

   "Sister-in-law, my bowl has been flooded with water. I'm afraid it won't be clean if I wash it with cold water. Do I need to boil it several times?"

   "Ah, I forgot about this, now the pot is occupied, why don't you go to my house."

   "No, no, go to my house, my house is close."

   "Alright, then go to Yuqiang's house."

   "Well, my house is convenient. When I woke up early, I told Yuqiang that if there were a lot of people coming from Uncle Fugui's house, I would use my stove as well, and I wouldn't be able to take care of it when I was busy."

   "It's alright, I'll talk to Susu later and see what to do in the afternoon."

  When I got home, I didn't wash the tableware and chopsticks a few times before I carried them to Chen Yuqiang's house.

   As a result, before they finished carrying it to Chen Yuqiang's house, a group of people from the city engineering team came to the entrance of the alley.

   "Aunts and aunts, are the rich and noble brothers at home? Lime and the rammer have been pulled over, where are they?"

   "Oh, I even sent a tamping machine. Rich and noble are busy in the backyard. I'll go and help you."

   Good guy, this is a busy job.

   Chen Ling and Wang Susu didn't have a moment of free time either. Fortunately, Chen Dazhi and Wang Lixian were there to help with the management.

   When it was almost noon, the steamed buns on the big stove were out of the pot. Chen Ling took a look at the front yard and guessed that it was not enough to eat, so he had to cook another pot.

   That’s how it is when employing people. Not to mention other places, the food must be more or less, otherwise it will be a joke if you are not full and run out of food.

  There is no other way, I will definitely have to take up another pot of my own stove, so I can only go to Chen Yuqiang's house to cook.

   Today, Chen Ling is going to make cauldron dishes, that is, tofu, meatballs, vegetables, pork, and noodles are stewed in one pot.

   In many places in the north, it is called boiled vegetables, simmered, or stewed vegetables, and in the northeast, it is called stewed noodles with pork. They are commonly called cauldron dishes here, and there are places called boiled salty soup, all of which are the same thing.

The pork and tofu are very fresh. They were bought by Wang Jusheng from the county seat. He helped Chen Ling manage these for the past two days. Otherwise, the things in summer cannot be stored for a long time. It has not become completely clean, and cannot be preserved. So what meal is going to be cooked, let Chen Ling write a note in advance, and he drives the donkey cart to the county town to buy it back.

   Today, I not only bought pork and tofu, but also bought a bunch of tobacco and alcohol. On a hot day, when working in the countryside, alcohol can be less, but tobacco is indispensable.

  The kitchen of Chen Yuqiang's house is tidy up, and the stove is also very clean. The mother-in-law came to clean it several times in the morning.

   This saved Chen Ling a lot of trouble. After washing up, he put on an apron and went into the kitchen to wash vegetables, make balls, and make vermicelli.

  Wang Jusheng helped set the fire and attacked him.

  …

   "Good guy, it's only a few hours, and the scent is wafting out."

   "It's half past eleven, and Fugui probably has already cooked the vegetables."

   "Uncle Dazhi, what's the dish this afternoon?"

   "I don't know either, but there must be a lot of meat in this smell, and it's not stingy to be rich."

   "Hahaha, you guys are always talking about coming over to eat, do you dare to be stingy when you are rich?"

   "That's true, but it's agreed in advance that no matter how good the lunch is, no one is allowed to touch alcohol, do you hear?"

   "I know, we are not stupid, we still work in the afternoon."

As they were talking, Wang Jusheng ran out and greeted: "The food is almost ready, everyone wash their hands, wash their faces, and prepare to have dinner. It's hot, go back to rest early after eating, and work in the afternoon. ."

   "Jusheng, what kind of dishes are cooked by the rich and noble, it's so **** fragrant."

   "Haha, big pot dishes, more than ten catties of pork are all in the pot, can it be delicious?"

  Wang Jusheng gestured, everyone heard it, good guy, everyone's eyes are green, more than ten catties of meat stewed in a large pot of vegetables, each person is not allowed to fish half a bowl of meat, how delicious is this?

   "Fugui said, if there are children at home and elderly people who didn't come, go and call."

   "Ouch, this baby is benevolent and righteous."

   All the men were smiling, and the whole family was happy when they went to the front yard to talk to the mother-in-law.

At this time, Wang Laishun was leading Qin Qiumei and several other village leaders to the village. Hearing this, the corners of his eyes twitched. This child just can't have money in his hand. He has two elders and starts tossing around. There can't be two taels of sesame oil in it, and more than ten catties of pork will be stewed in one go. You can't make such a dish even if you sell it for money? Susu didn't know how to follow the persuasion.

  The old secretary was unhappy, and he went to the front and said: "There is a lot of meat in the afternoon, so let's take a bowl for each person. If you eat it, it will affect your work in the afternoon. If the large pot of vegetables is left in the evening, it will be more delicious to eat the second meal."

   "Hahaha, Fifth Uncle, rich and noble don't feel bad, why do you feel bad for him."

  Chen Ling also tied an apron and walked out. When he saw these people, he smiled and said, "Uncle Fifth, Director Qin, and all the leaders, just transferred here, let's eat here at noon."

   When he was talking, Wang Jusheng took out two packs of cigarettes and dispersed them among the villagers: "The rich bought good cigarettes, Director Guo and Township Chief Liu, you guys smoke."

   "Jusheng, Wang Zhishu, this is the little brother you mentioned a few times ago."

   "Yes, his nickname is Chen Fugui and his real name is Chen Ling. His father used to be a postman in the county."

   "What a good comrade, a talent!"

   "When did you figure it out and want to come to the village to do things, you are always welcome here."

   Several leaders lit cigarettes, chatted with Chen Ling and others, and left.

   It surprised the men and women who came to help with the work. They approached Wang Susu and asked the township chief why Chen Ling was going to work in the township, and whether he was going to be an official.

   In the end, before Wang Susu said anything, Zhang Qiaoling held her head and started talking, so everyone was shocked after hearing it.

   "My God, you are so rich, you almost became an official."

   "Look, the little daughter-in-law of the family planning office is still talking to Uncle Fugui and refuses to leave."

   "That's Dongmei's sister, I don't know what to say to Fugui, let's go, let's go and listen."

   Today, not only the mayor, but also the director of the people's livelihood office in the county, came to inspect the post-disaster reconstruction work, but Qin Qiumei definitely didn't stay here for this.

"Da Hai has long wanted to come here, and said that he will bring something to you and Jusheng, even after the disaster, he can't be as leisurely as before, he can't get away, and he went back to the city a few days ago. , just call and ask me to come over and say sorry to you."

   "It's alright, what's the matter, this year's floods are making trouble, everyone is busy."

  Between people, it's nothing more than a relationship. As long as they don't hate each other, they can always become friends after going back and forth.

Zhao Dahai felt that he was very comfortable with Chen Ling and Wang Jusheng. The last time he went to the county seat, he said that he would come to meet them after the disaster, but he never came. The main reason was that the village was hit by a disaster, but he just took a look. Very sorry.

   Let Qin Qiumei come and bring a word.

   "Let's eat here at noon."

   "No, today Chunyuan went to my mother's place to call Dongmei, I have to rush back."

   "That's fine, next time come with the sea."

   "Sure. You're busy today, go back quickly."

   Qin Qiumei smiled, waved at Wang Susu in the courtyard, and turned to leave.

   It was just that she didn't go far before she smelled a strong fragrance wafting over. It was just before dinner time, and her stomach couldn't help growling, and she suddenly regretted it.

   This food is fragrant, so why don't you have a meal before leaving.

   The big pot was stewed. Chen Ling and Wang Jusheng carried the big wooden basin from Chen Yuqiang's house to the yard. The guy's scent wafted all the way, and he could smell it in half the village.

   "It's dinner, it's dinner!"

   "Wash your hands, and bring a bowl over to serve the dishes. Today, there is a lot of meat, and you can work hard to catch it. You can also eat steamed buns, so you don't need to save me."

  Chen Ling shouted loudly.

   The little dolls who were still clamoring to buy popsicles suddenly stopped talking, and ran back to find their parents to get bowls and chopsticks to serve dishes.

  The hot cauldron, the oily fat pork, accompanied by tofu and meatballs, floated a thick layer of oily stars, and it was still bubbling.

   "It's so fragrant, it's full of oil and water!"

  The whole large wooden pot was full of vegetables, spiky, and after a while, the men were holding bowls and steamed buns, squatting in the shade at the base of the wall, shoving them into their mouths, and eating their mouths full of oil.

  The women set the table and sat in the shade to eat.

  The meat is fragrant, and the steamed buns are fragrant, and everyone is eating with their stomachs open.

   "The food is so good, we can't just do chores in the afternoon, help Fugui to clean up the backyard quickly, and strive to lay the foundation tomorrow."

   "What my aunt said is that it's enough to leave a few people to help Susu wash the pots and dishes, and the food is rich and expensive. We can't help but work."

  The ladies were eating and discussing in a low voice.

   At this time, Chen Ling came over and shouted: "Sister-in-law and auntie, if one bowl is not enough, there is still in the pot."

Today’s pork has a lot of fat, and the fat doesn’t weigh on the scale. The same weight is bigger than pure lean meat, and this year’s pork is not a feed pig. Unlike later generations, the meat will shrink when it is cooked. At this time, the pork will rise when it is cooked. It seems to have a lot of meat, and it is very fragrant.

   "Enough is enough, you don't need to worry about our wealth."

  “…”

   "This baby is really good. It has gotten better and better in the past six months. In the future, I will tell my daughter that my husband's family is looking for wealth and honor."

   "No, it used to be said that people can't get rich and noble, but now you compare it with the opposite door, and you can compare it immediately."

   "We just heard the little daughter-in-law of the family planning office tell Fugui that Chunyuan went to her mother's house to invite Dongmei, and the couple might reconcile."

   "Oh, my mother, these two are not fuel-efficient lamps, can they stop?"

   "Who knows."

  Women gossip gossip, but the more you talk, the more energetic your work will be.

After eating, I went home and rested for a while. The afternoons came early. Except for the few who stayed to help Wang Susu clean the pots, bowls and stoves, the others went to the backyard to help. That's called a hot one.

   (end of this chapter)