Caomin

Lantern Festival is a big festival.Even if the world is in chaos now, there will be no curfew this night.

The representatives of various forces who are squatting on Yuanjia Zhuangzi relying on various relationships have regrets in their hearts for missing this year's Lantern Festival; The ears of wheat, which were obviously much fatter than the wheat grown by themselves, made their hearts very hot again.

The sky was getting dark, but the people in the village became excited and put on new clothes for the New Year.The girls and daughters-in-law of each family all dressed up, and the men of the family gathered in the courtyard with paper lanterns in their hands.

Huh?This posture does not seem to be about to rest!

In addition to looking at the lights, the Lantern Festival more importantly represents the end of the year.Shouldn't farmers be resting early to recharge their batteries for the next harvest?

Most of the people sent to guard the village are confidantes of various forces; but their status is not enough to live in the compound, so they can only spend the night in the villager's home.After a period of time, both sides are also familiar with each other.They were still able to resist asking, but the farmers were already greeting with a smile: "Guard Fang, there is a lantern festival in the compound, let's go together!"

As a result, most people followed with suspicion.

There is a large flat land in front of the compound.After the wheat in the field is harvested, it will be placed here to dry.Now it's empty, let's put the lamp on it.

At this moment, the sky is not completely dark, and the lights of all the houses have not been lit yet.Scattered stone lanterns have been placed on the flat ground, faintly marking the path.Fan Haoxuan brought Yuan Jia out and lit the first stone lantern, and then someone lit the stone lanterns one by one.

The crowd cheered for no reason.Then he lit up his own lights.Some shelves are prepared on the flat ground to hang the lamps.

Most of the farmers are illiterate, so they don't have to guess lantern riddles.A few of them set up stalls with brains, selling some Lantern Festival sweet soup and the like.

Xia Ruicheng stood on the second floor of the first room in the compound, overlooking the whole flat ground at a glance.

When Fan Haoxuan brought Yuan Jia up, he saw Xia Ruicheng in a daze, the two looked at each other, and it was Fan Haoxuan who asked, "Brother, what's the matter?"

Xia Ruicheng looked up at Fan Haoxuan and Yuan Jia, but remained silent.

Fan Haoxuan didn't ask any questions, and sat down with Yuan Jia to eat Yuanxiao.

After Yuan Jia finished eating a bowl, he heard Xia Ruicheng sigh with emotion: "I've been used to watching Yunzhou's lantern festival since I was a child, and I thought it would be very lively, but I didn't expect..." He couldn't finish his words.He didn't mean to say that either.

Compared with the Lantern Festival in Yunzhou City, the Lantern Festival in front of me is incomparable no matter where it comes from.Even if there were all kinds of lamps that Yi Xuefeng purchased from Yunzhou City, they were in a hurry after all, so they couldn't be counted as exquisite or gorgeous.Not to mention being compared with the lamps of the wealthy households in previous years, which were often two or three storeys high.

The handicraft of the farmers cannot be compared with that of the craftsmen. Most of the lamps in their hands are rough, and the style is almost the simplest one, but it can be seen that they have been carefully polished.

But it was such a simple lantern festival that people in the city looked down on at all, but it made the whole Zhuangzi boil.

Yi Xuefeng joined in the fun and set up a stall under a stone lantern, specializing in selling Kongming lanterns.Two pennies a piece, and you can write a congratulatory speech.As a result, he was so busy that he didn't even raise his head all night.

There are also various small items such as silk flower headbands specially bought for stalls, almost all of which are sold at cost prices, and they are also very busy.

Xia Ruicheng looked at it for a while, and his mood eased. He picked up the Lantern Festival that was a bit cold, and ate it without letting the heat change.There were three Lantern Festivals in a small bowl, and Xia Ruicheng ate them all in one bite.

"Mr. Xuefeng is in a loss-making business today." Xia Ruicheng started a conversation, "How many people in the capital begged for Mr. Xuefeng's words in the past."

Kongming lanterns are burned out when put on them.Xia Ruicheng felt a little pity.

Yuan Jia watched as Yi Xuefeng was holding the hand of a villager's child, writing stroke by stroke on the lamp, and said with a smile, "What does it matter, money can't buy me happiness!"

Fan Haoxuan leaned over and echoed: "Well, as long as Yuan Yuan is happy."

Xia Ruicheng was silent.Today's crude lantern festival took a lot of manpower and material resources to organize in a short period of time.Although it was a drop in the bucket compared to Yuan Jia, it was different for the farmers.

The point is, how many masters would handle such a trivial matter for their farmers?

In Xia Ruicheng's impression, no.

Are these farmers not worthy of being treated well?

These farm households farm for their masters, and they are busy all year round. The rice in the master's house is rotten, and most of the time the farmers can't even eat enough.Farmers have to save a lot of time to cut a new clothes.

In the suburbs of Yunzhou, there are quite a few Zhuangzi like this.Compared with other places, the previous life of the farmers on this village was much better; but compared with the present?

A Kongming lantern costs two Wen, and a silk flower costs three Wen. Farmers pay without any hesitation.Everyone put on new clothes, many big girls and daughters-in-law, even the old women were painted with makeup.

How long has this Zhuangzi been in Yuanjia's hands?

Xia Ruicheng couldn't help but glance at Yuan Jia twice.A half-grown boy, lying on the fence sitting unoccupied, with a heartless smile on his face, holding Fan Haoxuan's hand, whispering a few words in Fan Haoxuan's ear from time to time, and occasionally staring at him, There's nothing clever about it at all.

Is wisdom as stupid as it is?

Yuan Jia looked at it for a while, then turned to Fan Haoxuan and talked about his plan: "When the farming is off this year, what do you think I will demolish all the farmers' houses?"

Xia Ruicheng stared blankly, before he could ask, he saw Fan Haoxuan nodding.

"That's good. I've seen that many houses are not secure. I heard people in the compound say that it's fine at other times, but it can't stop the rain." It's normal for it to rain heavily outside and light rain inside.Not only Yunzhou, but the entire three southwest states are rainy.When it rains heavily, the whole family often huddles on the table and sleeps.

After hearing Fan Haoxuan's words, Xia Ruicheng breathed a sigh of relief.Then he laughed inexplicably.How could he think that Yuan Jia would directly demolish the houses of those farmers?

"It will be built in a unified way, but I don't know where to build it? I also want to make a small collection, so as to save the inconvenience for the farmers to buy things. If there is anything missing, it will be reported at that time, and the big yard will purchase it in a unified way. The quantity is large, and the goods that are obtained The price is also more affordable." Yuan Jia said, and suddenly turned to look at Xia Ruicheng, "Why do you need to charge for entering the city?"

Xia Ruicheng was almost stopped by the question: "It's not that easy for a person to enter the city. He has to do a lot of things, and it also brings a burden to the guards in the city to clean up. It all costs money."

Fan Haoxuan narrowed his eyes slightly when he looked at Yuan Jia, and then gave Xia Ruicheng a sympathetic look.

Xia Ruicheng felt a little puzzled when he saw the look in his brother's eyes.

Then I heard Yuan Jia start counting: "When a person enters the city, he has to do a lot of things. For example, he needs to eat, stay, buy some things... If there is a transaction, there will be income. The merchants have to pay taxes, Taxes are used for administration...the yamen dominates, and part of it is allocated to cleaning and guards. So, why do you need to go to the city?"

Xia Ruicheng: It sounds reasonable.

Unlike Xia Ruicheng, Fan Haoxuan said directly: "Why don't we try it in Quyang City first?"

"En." Yuan Jia looked at Fan Haoxuan and smiled, then turned his head and looked at Xia Ruicheng with disdain, curled his lips, and almost blurted out the word "cut".

Xia Ruicheng smiled wryly.He saw that although he had a high position and authority, there was King Xia over his head after all, so he was not as efficient as Fan Haoxuan in doing things.

"Yunzhou City is definitely not good, why don't you try Dongyi." Dongyi is a town, and it was built by Xia Ruicheng. Although the income has been good in the past two years, it is just a town, no more than a city.

The three of them were talking when they saw the imperial concubine coming.

After dismissing the servants, Shi Zifei's character in private was very cheerful: "It's better to be more lively here."

The four of them chatted together for a while, and the concubine Shizi was also good at housekeepers. After hearing Yuan Jia's plan, she agreed, "Yuan Yuan...cough, brother Yuan's plan is very good. Once in half a month, we will enter Just a piece of flat land beside the road in the village. How do you plan to build the houses of the farmers?" She and Princess Xia often went to this village, and they knew more about this village than their own.

Without a pen, Yuan Jia dipped his finger in the tea and drew a simple outline on the table: "To build a unified brick and tile house, the foundation should be raised higher to avoid damp." Then Yuan Jia talked about some specific plans. After listening, the reaction was mixed.

Of course, Fan Haoxuan supported Yuan Jia unconditionally.He also knew what Yuan Jia was capable of.

The concubine Shi Zi frowned when she heard this: "This way, it will cost a lot."

Xia Ruicheng also agreed.This is nothing compared to a lantern festival.How many people are there in this village?

Yuan Jia shook his head: "Actually, not necessarily. The cost is only some money for materials. There are quite a few farmers who can build houses. There is no delay in building during the slack season. Besides, the current thatched houses are not worth the trouble. Southwest The weather here is simply not suitable for living here.” Not to mention that the thatch on the roof does not keep out the rain, even mildew is also a problem.The wood used as the main support of the house, although it has undergone some treatment, has been completely moldy or eaten by insects within a few years.Not to mention that the wood that can be used as a pillar is not cheap, but such a house is still very dangerous.Those old houses that have been around for many years are in danger of collapsing at any time.

Last year he just arrived, this year he has to solve it all at once!

The topic got a bit cold here, so Fan Haoxuan took the opportunity to bring Yuan Jia back to his yard.

All kinds of beautiful lanterns in the yard were made by Yuan Jia watching Fan Haoxuan.There are no big ones, almost all palm-sized ones.

All kinds of flowers, small animals, and a few fruits painted by Yuan Jia.

There were no outsiders at the moment, Yuan Jia put his arms around Fan Haoxuan's neck and kissed him, sending the sheep to the tiger's mouth.