My 1995 Small Farm

  Chapter 135

  Wheat straw is a good thing, more durable than reed poles.

  Without the wheat straw piles outside the village, a lot of flavor and fun are missing.

   For them, the wheat straw stack is the first of the four things of firewood, rice, oil and salt.

  The head of the family, or the peasant woman in charge of the kitchen, would go to the straw piles in the morning, evening and rainy evening to pull grass, which is very common.

  The flattened wheat straw was torn down one by one, and the baskets were carried to the house. It was used to cook porridge and steamed buns, and it was also used to make beds and heated kang. It was a major event related to the livelihood of the common people.

   Not only people love, but animals too.

   is also a favorite place for dolls.

In addition, the piles of wheat straw are very attractive to wild animals. On cold winter days, especially after night, use a flashlight to reach out and touch it. It is often like pulling a radish. There are a series of pheasants and hares. Exactly, if it encounters a heavy snow day, it is simply better, and it can often block a whole nest.

   "Why did you cut so many reeds, ah rich?"

  Chen Ling was driving an ox cart on the dirt road in the field. When the peasant woman with the blue turban saw it, she straightened up from the vegetable garden and greeted him.

   "I want to make some straw mats. I'm still busy, Sanshen, the sun is about to set, so go back early."

  Chen Ling stopped the ox cart and replied.

This is Wang Lihui's wife. She and Wang Lixian's wife are relatives. She also helped a lot when the family built the house. Now that I have met, I am much closer than before. A clever woman.

   "I'll be back soon. I have to pull out the grass in the vegetable garden. I don't care about it for three or four days. It just grows in such a pile. If I don't pull them out, I'm always fighting for fat with the vegetables. What's the matter?"

   "Pick up some small cabbage and go back, just as Susu's sister is there, make a few more meals for Xiao Nizi. Look at how tender this small cabbage is, go back and fry it with lard, it's delicious."

   Sanshen said with a smile.

   And he was not slow in his hands, and he had already given Chen Ling to pick vegetables when he spoke.

  Chen Ling couldn't stop him, so he had to ask the third aunt to pull out a few less, but in the end, he still pulled five or six, and helped him throw them onto the reeds piled high by the ox cart.

   "Niuniu is going to school too, right?"

   "Go on, Lihui brother and his wife go to the market all day long, and the corn in the fields is the same every day. You can't control her, so you should go to school and worry about it."

   "Then let Niuniu and Zhuwa get up early, and I'll send them over tomorrow."

   "Oh, it's a good thing, but I'll trouble you."

   "It's okay, auntie, what's the trouble with this."

  Chen Ling waved his hand, replied with a smile, and continued to drive the car home.

The cabbage in early autumn is really good, crisp and tender, but it was planted late at home. After planting, Chen Ling did not go to take special care of it. Recently, he was too lazy to clean it up and let them grow naturally, so it would take ten and a half days to eat them. .

   But it's nothing, I don't have any shortage of vegetables at home, it's not bad for this dish.

   After returning home, unload the reeds from the car, spread them in the yard, and wait for them to dry before use. Recently, the temperature is a little lower at night, the autumn tiger has not yet passed, and the sun is still quite vicious during the day, and the half-yellow reeds he picked are quick to dry.

   Simply busy for a while, and at Wang Susu's urging, he managed a neat short bun. As for the daughter-in-law's own big braids, she refused to cut it. Not only she cherished it herself, but Chen Ling also liked it very much.

  Especially when the young daughter-in-law braided her dark and thick hair into a braid, she always had an indescribable charm, which made him unable to help his heart beat every time.

  …

   was speechless all night.

  The next day, the young couple got up very early because they wanted to send Wang Zhenzhen to school.

At my sister-in-law's strong request, I just need to cook instant noodles for her for breakfast. I can't help it. Today's little babies are greedy for this, especially the boiled instant noodles. In their opinion, it is even more delicious.

   "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, why are your chickens so diligent in laying eggs?"

   "I counted, it's only been a few days that your old hen has laid ten eggs."

  Wang Zhenzhen touched a few fresh eggs from the chicken coop, jumped to the kitchen, and handed them to Chen Ling.

   "What's weird about this, like a human being, eat more, grow stronger, and work more. My chickens are well fed, and they lay eggs more diligently than other chickens. Isn't this normal?"

  Chen Ling replied with a smile.

   Wang Susu used to be very strange, so he was fooled by this statement.

   At that time, Liu Nier and the others came every day, catching bugs and digging earthworms, tadpoles and grasshoppers were also indispensable, so Wang Susu believed it.

   But that's not the case.

   Free-range chickens usually lay an egg in about two days. Even a well-fed family can't guarantee egg production every day. Over the course of a year, each hen will produce no more than 170 eggs.

   But Chen Ling's family is different, not to mention that they lay eggs every day, they are bigger than ordinary eggs, and their shells are a little harder. Experienced people can know that they are good eggs by touching them twice.

   For example, a few local chickens brought by the little girl were also raised with their own chickens and ducks.

   But obviously they are not as diligent in laying eggs as their own chickens, and the quality of eggs is not comparable. Moreover, the difference can be clearly seen from the appearance. The feathers of their own chickens are shiny and full of luster, and their legs and claws are extremely thick and powerful. Every time they feed, Wang Susu stands at the door and goes home Run, the chickens brought by the little girl couldn't outrun them, let alone **** food from them.

   This is just a turkey, and it’s even more different when a duck lays an egg.

However, because Chen Ling poured two scoops of stream water into the pool in the courtyard every few days to dilute it, and then went to the stone trough of the chicken coop to add water, the effect is not obvious, and it will not be too exaggerated. There are more chickens and ducks at home, and no one will count the more eggs they lay.

  Most people are just curious that they are fatter and stronger than others, but after the strangeness, they mostly praise Wang Susu for being a virtuous housekeeper and raising chickens and ducks so well, so they don’t think much about it.

No, Chen Ling said this, Wang Zhenzhen just blinked his eyes and thought about it, and agreed with his statement, and then said with a smile that he would catch more bugs when he came back from school and bring some chickens he brought with him. Also feed well.

   "Okay, I'll make you hot pot chicken in winter when I get fat."

  Chen Ling said, he and Wang Susu's meal was ready and brought down from the stove.

   Then refill the wok with water and wait for Wang Zhenzhen to cook the noodles.

  Instant noodles cook fast.

  After the water is boiled, put the dough in, sprinkle with the seasoning bag, and beat two eggs.

  When it is about to come out of the pot, cut the chopped green onion into sections, sprinkle it on top, pour half a spoon of sesame oil, and the fragrant boiled instant noodles are ready.

  Wang Zhenzhen was very greedy, eating with a bowl and snoring. From time to time, he even took out two noodles and gave them to Heiwa and Xiaojin to eat. For the two big stomach kings, this is not enough. The instant noodles are fragrant. They also like to eat it. They ran back to the kennel to grab the food bowl, wagging their tails and waiting for her to feed them.

   "Didn't I leave eggs for you? Why don't I come to join in the fun?"

  Chen Ling said that he beat two raw eggs into the food bowls of the two dogs, and reprimanded them was one thing, he would not treat the two babies badly.

  He and Wang Susu also had a very simple breakfast. Some of the leftovers from last night were heated up. They cooked a pot of millet and pumpkin porridge, served with some pickles, and in addition to these, there were egg pancakes with small cabbage stalls.

  Egg pancakes, apart from the ones eaten in the morning, are the afternoon lunches brought to Wang Zhenzhen.

   "Really, don't play with the dog, hurry up and finish your meal, put your schoolbag on your back and go."

Before seven o'clock, after having breakfast, Chen Ling caught up with the ox cart and took his wife and sister-in-law to the entrance of the village. At this time, Liu Ni'er and a group of little kids were already waiting. Climb into the car.

   Then sat down with Wang Zhenzhen and talked about the interesting things between them.

   "Okay, sit tight, let's go."

   greeted the little white ox, and the ox cart moved steadily forward. This morning, the dew was heavy, and the mountains were foggy. It was not until the county town that the sun showed its head.

   "All slow down."

   These boys jumped off before the bullock cart stopped.

   "It's okay, Uncle Fugui, we're leaving."

   "Run slowly, and remember to ask the cafeteria to serve you hot meals at noon."

"Know it!"

  This primary school is not far from Lao Lingzhong.

There is a wall between    and the old hospital, but it belongs to the primary school that was newly built in the past two years. The highest grade is the fifth grade. Of course, the current primary school only reaches the fifth grade. It was changed back to the six-year system around 2002.

  Now primary schools also have canteens. They don’t live on campus here, and most of them are just places for teachers and staff to eat. Students bring meals from home and can go to reheat them before eating. Generally, they don’t charge money.

  After delivering Wang Zhenzhen, the young couple went to sell the dates and pears they brought, but the price was not too expensive, and they didn't care much. After the money was sold, the two went to the north of the city to buy cotton.

  Wang Susu is going to make cotton coats and two quilts at home when he has nothing to do.

After buying cotton, Chen Ling took his daughter-in-law to the post and telecommunications office and subscribed to the newspaper for a year. Every week, a postman would deliver it to the village. It is also very pleasant.

  Because Chen Ling paid the money happily, he directly gave the newspapers from the previous two weeks.

A thick stack of   , each newspaper not only has news, but also various small stories. On the way home, Wang Susu leaned on Chen Ling and read it with gusto.

Susu is a traditional woman. Although she has a high school culture like Chen Ling, she has little knowledge of the outside world and lacks the information she receives. Some jokes in the newspapers that have been told in later generations can also make her feel good. She lay on Chen Ling's shoulder and giggled for a long time.

   Then he told Chen Ling over and over again, trying to make him laugh.

  Chen Ling also laughed with her. From time to time, he added a little more material to the story and said a few strange words, which made Wang Susu even more hilarious. In the end, he had no strength to laugh, and was paralyzed in his arms and gasping for breath.

   Both of them enjoyed this kind of time very much. They lived their lives slowly. They didn’t have to be too busy, and they didn’t just sit around at home.

   In the warm sunshine of early autumn, there was continuous laughter all the way, and when the young couple was in a good mood, there would also be a few folk songs.

   The little white ox also kept flapping its ears, mooing, and the steps were much brisk.

   It is also very happy.

  …

   "Here comes the pot repairer, Uncle Fugui, the pot repairer is here, let's go."

   Not long after lunch, Chen Ling just came out with two bags of wheat, ready to dry and grind the noodles. There was only a bottom left in the tank at home, which was not enough for two days.

   "Here comes."

   Hearing Chen Yuqiang shouting outside, he responded, picked up the cooking pot, frying pan and kettle at home and walked out.

When cooking rice and water with firewood, the bottom of the pot is easy to become fouled. If the cooking is slow, you need to use a shovel to shovel it off. After a long time, the bottom of the pot will become thinner and thinner. It is inevitable that there will be damage, leaks, and breaks. Cracked.

  The common people are frugal. They don’t often replace their pots and pots with new ones. Most of the time, the damaged part is the bottom of the pot. If it is broken, it is repaired. It will not affect the use after repairing.

   When Chen Ling's father was still there, the steamer at home was older than him.

   I heard that there were more than a dozen holes in the steamer at most. Once my parents quarreled and it broke, so I made two old pots together to make up one.

   However, there have been fewer tinkers in the past two years, and they will set up stalls at the fairs. In the past, people would come to the village every two or three months to shout, carrying a bellows at one end and a charcoal tool at the other, walking around the village to join the households. It was quite popular during that time.

   "Uncle Fugui, Wen Li told me that she is going to do some noodle business with my sister-in-law and my sister-in-law in a while. Do you think this will work, uncle?"

   Walking towards the entrance of the village, Chen Yuqiang said.

  Chen Ling smiled when he heard the words: "It's not bad, Yingqiang's family is just able to grind noodles. It's convenient and hassle-free for the two of you to open a small noodle shop."

   "Oh, I don't know if I can do it or not. The women just don't want to be idle, they want to make some noodles to go to the market and sell them."

  Chen Yuqiang shook his head: "They all learned from Uncle Lihui's family. They thought they could go to the market to earn some money, so they wanted to follow suit."

  Wang Lihui and his wife are very handy. Two years ago, they set up a tailor shop and closed it down without making any money. Now they go to the fair all day to sell clothes, schoolbags and hats. Compared with most people, there is no shortage of income.

  Sometimes he earns more money than Chen Dazhi. The villagers are still jealous, but no one is good at craftsmanship, so he has no choice but to find something that he can do at home.

  The two came to the entrance of the village chatting, Chen Ling was a little dumbfounded.

   "Why so many people."

  Many people in the village were waiting with their pots in their hands, and there was already a long queue. When they saw Chen Ling and Chen Yuqiang coming over, a few young people approached.

   "Rich and noble, come to make up the pot too."

   "Yeah, why are so many people lined up?"

   "Hahaha, the tinker has not been working hard in the past two years. Who doesn't have two old pots? Look, the tinker who came this time is not too old. Today, he made some money."

Chen Ling glanced across the crowd, the tinker was really young, most of them were old men in the past, but today is a young couple, sitting on the pony, the daughter-in-law pulling the bellows, collecting and delivering the pot, the man I just caught fire with my palms, banging and beating, and I was very busy.

   "You're quite young, you don't know how to do it?"

   "Hey, if you dare to walk out, there are probably two brushes."

   was chatting with the people around, and after waiting for an hour, it was finally Chen Ling's turn.

   After he handed over the pot and pot, he saw that the man turned the pot on the triangular frame, followed by a series of beatings, as if he was taking a pulse, and could find out some potential root causes.

   is to find the places that are about to decay, knock out holes in these unreliable places, and fill them with molten iron to increase the service life of the pot.

   Although this man is young, his skills are not bad.

   It didn't take 20 minutes for Chen Ling to repair the two pots, then pressed it with an asbestos pad, then flattened it with a file, and polished the pot with a grinding wheel. This is done.

   This kind of repair pot is calculated according to the number of patches. It costs one cent to make a patch. If the hole is too large, a gasket is required, and an extra one or two cents is required.

   It doesn't cost a dollar in total. In the eyes of ordinary people, it is more cost-effective to repair the pot than to replace it with a new one.

   "You can't repair this aluminum pot, you need to change the bottom."

   "Change it."

   "Single material? Double material?"

   "Give me a double material."

   It's faster to change the bottom than to fill the pot, so it only costs less than two yuan to complete it.

   "Fugui, come here quickly, there is something good for you."

  Chen Ling paid the money, and was about to take the pot and go home when he saw Wang Laishun cheerfully standing at the entrance of the village and waving at him.

   "What's the matter, Fifth Uncle?"

   "It's a good thing, a good thing, there is a word from the county that someone from the TV station will come down to interview and report on the situation after the disaster. Then you can speak a few words on behalf of our village."

   "The TV station is coming? No, why did this come to our village? No matter how hard the disaster is, it's not our turn."

   "Silly boy, you don't care why he came, the relief money will come down quickly when he comes, it's not a bad thing after all."

   "That's right, but fifth uncle, change someone else, how can I talk to people here?"

   "If you don't come here, you are the only one in the village who will deal with outsiders, and you will soon become brothers with the city leaders. Who will you go to?"

   "Don't worry, I won't treat you badly. Uncle will have good things waiting for you in a while."

  “…”

  Chen Ling was speechless for a while, if it was all such a good thing, you should never come to me.

   (end of this chapter)