curling smoke

Gu Qiu has something on his mind recently.This small matter has been bothering Gu Qiu.

Years ago, Lin Dashan's elder brother Lin Yu'er said that his marriage with Lin Dashan's Gu Qiu would be arranged in the spring of this year.Naturally, this is what Gu Qiu wants, but as a brother, there is always a dowry to get married, so that he can hold his head up when he arrives at his husband's house. This is what his father has told him a long time ago, and has also prepared for him up.

But now I don't have anything, not even a copper coin, let alone a dowry.Although Lin Dashan doesn't necessarily mind his little dowry.But as a brother who is about to get married, I always feel a little uncomfortable.

This has been uncomfortable for a long time, and Gu Qiu figured out a small way in his heart.

In the past few days during the Spring Festival, he asked Lin Dashan that a large-scale Lantern Festival will be held in the county every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.Every day is very lively, all kinds of lanterns and various snacks on the street dazzle people.When it comes to the Lantern Festival, people from all villages and towns will go to watch the lanterns and guess the flowers. Even the brothers of the big families who usually don’t leave the gate of the city will go out to take advantage of this time.

As soon as Gu Qiu heard what Lin Dashan said, he had some thoughts in his heart.His grandfather learned how to make lanterns when he was young. He usually farmed the land, but he would make lanterns during the Spring Festival, and he would buy them on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and he could earn more money.Gu Qiu used to think it was fun and learned from it, although the craft is not as good as grandpa, and he didn't learn many tricks.But he made southern lanterns, which were somewhat different from the lanterns described by Lin Dashan, and Gu Qiu had a bit of drawing skills, so he could draw some nice pictures on the lanterns he made.If you get it in the city on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, some people will definitely buy it because it is novel and beautiful.

Gu Qiu thought that if he could earn a little money in this way, he could buy some dowry for himself at that time.But Gu Qiu still hesitated in his heart. After all, he was a brother and he was not married yet. If he showed his face and had too many ideas, he was afraid that someone in the village would gossip.

Gu Qiu thought about it but couldn't figure out why, so he simply went to Jiang Tao's house with a basket.

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"Brother Jin Yun, how are you doing today? Are you still feeling comfortable?"

Gu Qiu asked as soon as he entered the door. "It's good! My appetite has improved a lot recently, and I can't seem to eat enough." Li Jinyun said with a smile, "It's such a cold day, let's turn on the kang to warm up."

Gu Qiu was indeed very cold, so he quickly sat down. "What's in this basket? I'm so hungry for this scent." Li Jinyun sniffed and asked.

Gu Qiu took out the plate from the basket.Li Jinyun saw a few small and exquisite steamed buns on the plate, which were different from ordinary steamed stuffed buns. The surface was shiny, sprinkled with green onions, and the fragrance wafted far away. Not to mention him, who has a big appetite recently.I can't wait to pinch one of them with my hands and take a bite. It's really fragrant, and there is meat in it: "This bun is really delicious and fragrant."

Gu Qiu was amused by Li Jinyun's appearance, "The buns are steamed first, and then fried in oil, so they are more fragrant."

"It's delicious, I'll eat a few more first. By the way, this little dress in my hand will be ready soon. You are a good crafter. Help me finish sewing." Li Jinyun hurriedly started to eat.

Gu Qiu is helpless! !

Li Jinyun ate happily while looking at Gu Qiu: "Seeing you like this, do you have something on your mind?"

Gu Qiu raised his head in surprise. "Oh, I guessed it just by looking at you. Look, even the work at hand is much slower. Tell me how it is."

Gu Qiu put down the needle and thread in his hand, and after thinking about it, he told Li Jinyun what was on his mind.After hearing this, Li Jinyun immediately said: "There's nothing to worry about. The brother of our farmer's family is not that particular. It's okay to show up in public. People in our village don't gossip. Don't worry about that. And look at my family Well, you know that Lin Dashan is a very caring person, and he will definitely support this matter."

After hearing Lin Dashan's words, Gu Qiu's eyes lit up: "Really!"

"Of course," Li Jinyun said earnestly, "In addition to the lanterns, I think the fried buns are also very good, and it's definitely good to sell them. Although you want to earn a dowry, you don't have to avoid it. Anyway, there is nothing to do in winter. It’s okay for Dashan to do you a favor. At that time, my body will definitely not be able to get over it, let our family also go over to help, you and Dashan are not eloquent, Taozi is the best.”

Gu Qiu nodded again and again, "Well, I'll talk to Big Brother Lin when I go back later. Why wait a little longer, I think you can't wait now. You can go back first, and let Taozi give it to you later. You send it back."

When he got home, he told Lin Dashan about the matter, and Lin Dashan was really supportive and patted his chest for help.

There was no paper, paint, or paintbrush for making lanterns, so Lin Dashan asked the villagers who were going to the city to bring them back for him. As for the bamboo, he went to the back mountain to cut a few.

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Lantern Festival on the 15th of the first lunar month

Today is the Lantern Festival. Gu Qiu and Lin Dashan have been making lanterns a few days ago, but they were afraid that they would not be able to sell so many lanterns, so they stopped after making fifty or so.As for the fried buns, I started wrapping them last night. The wrapped buns were neatly stacked in a large wooden basin, and then covered with clean white gauze.

After lunch, the group set off.Although the lantern festival is at night, we must first occupy a good place.

When he arrived in the city, Jiang Tao chose a good location and moved the clothes from the car.Lanterns should be hung with strings.After cleaning up these things, the sky had already darkened, and the streets began to become lively.Lin Dashan lit the stove.Jiang Tao accompanied him this time, and he also brought a stove to buy some tea eggs and so on.

Gu Qiu poured a layer of oil in a large frying pan and heated it up, then neatly piled up the steamed buns and fried them in the pan. The aroma of the buns became more intense after being fried.

While frying the buns, the aroma of the buns slowly drifted away with the wind, attracting many people.While waiting, these guests bought a beautiful lantern to have a look. If they were tempted by the fried buns, they would buy some tea eggs and stewed tofu to satisfy their cravings.As soon as the fried buns were boiled, everyone took out their wallets to buy them. After a while, the freshly baked fried buns were all sold out.Some people continue to wait to buy the next pot if they haven't bought it.

Just like that, within two hours, all the lanterns, fried buns, and even the tea eggs and dried bean curd that Jiang Tao brought along along the way were all sold out.Lin Dashan and Jiang Tao packed up their things and put them back in the car. The group was about to go home when Jiang Tao grabbed Lin Dashan and Gu Qiu and said, "It's still early, today is the Lantern Festival The Lantern Festival, just in time for us to catch up, you two might as well go and have fun for a while. I'm here to see things, you go and see. Hurry up and go."

The two people who were "driven out" by Jiang Tao were a little embarrassed at first, but seeing that there were pairs of people coming and going on the street, they relaxed their minds and concentrated on looking at the lanterns on the street.

The street was crowded with people, as if everyone had flocked here, Lin Dashan held Gu Qiu's hand tightly, "Don't get lost, be careful." Gu Qiu didn't say anything but held Gu Qiu's hand firmly Lin Dashan's generous palm.

The two held hands and watched slowly on the street, not in a hurry to do anything, just enjoying the warmth with their hearts.

"What are they selling over there? Why are there so many people around?"

Lin Dashan looked at Gu Qiu dotingly, and said, "If you're interested, go and have a look." The two squeezed into the crowd.

It turned out to be a lantern riddle.

"Today's Lantern Festival, let's guess lantern riddles here. If you guess correctly, you will be given a sympathy knot in addition to the lantern. Bless you and your one who are in love with each other and live forever. You can guess twice for only one money. If you are interested, come and try it !” The many young brothers and men next to him were eager to try, and several of them took out their money.However, the lantern riddles in this store are indeed unique and innovative, and there are not many guesses.

"Let's try it," Lin Dashan said, holding Gu Qiu's hand tightly.

Gu Qiu felt a little confused. He could guess a few of the lantern riddles just now, so he nodded, "Well, let's try it too, but if it's less, one penny is enough. If it's too much, it's a waste of money." Lin Dashan smiled and took out two coins from his pocket and gave them to the boss.

Two money, the boss gave four riddles.

Seeing the four riddles presented by the boss, Gu Qiu frowned. The first one is easy to guess, and many people can guess it, but the next four are a bit more difficult.

Seeing that Gu Qiu frowned, Lin Dashan couldn't help feeling a little worried, "How is it?" Lin Dashan asked with concern.

Gu Qiu shook his head and continued to look at the riddle.The third riddle was a bit difficult, and I must have been unable to guess it, so I skipped it directly.In the end Gu Qiu guessed two, the first and the fourth.The boss gave two beautiful lanterns and two bright red concentric knots.Holding two sympathetic knots in his hand, Gu Qiu no longer cared about any unguessable puzzles, and only felt that what he was holding in his hands was the happiness of his life.

Seeing Gu Qiu's blushing face with joy, Lin Dashan felt that he was also very happy.

The two continued to walk down the street holding hands, admiring the exquisite lanterns along the way.

"Ah Choo, Ah Choo..." Perhaps it was because the weather was too cold, Gu Qiu couldn't help but sneezed twice.

Lin Dashan asked nervously, "What's the matter, are you freezing? Then let's go back first, our health is important." Gu Qiu nodded obediently while covering his nose.

Lin Dashan looked around, "You wait here for a while, I'm going to buy something, don't move around, I'll be right away." After speaking, Lin Dashan got into the crowd.When Lin Dashan came back, he stuffed something into Gu Qiu's arms, it was a Tang lady, and Gu Qiu felt warm immediately.

A group of people returned to the village despite the wind and snow, and went to Jiang Tao's house first.

Since both Gu Qiu and Lin Dashan came out, they sent Gu Dong, who was left alone, to Jiang Tao's house to be with Li Jinyun, so they went back to Gu Qiu's house first to take Gu Dong back home.

"Brother, how are things selling today?"

Gu Qiu turned around and smiled: "Everything is sold out, just now your big brother bought the fried Lantern Festival you like and came back."

"Great, thank you brother, thank you Dashan brother"!

Back home in the evening, the three of them ate the soft and glutinous fried Lantern Festival.After washing, Gu Qiu lay on the bed with Gu Dong in his arms. The kang was already scorched by Lin Dashan. Today, there was Tang Pozi filled with water on the bed, and even the air in the room was warm.

Under the slightly yellow light, Gu Qiu sat up and counted today's accounts. Today's fifty lanterns were all sold out. Each lantern was meticulously made, and each sold for four dollars. A total of two hundred were bought. money.The material for making lanterns is bamboo that Lin Dashan cut up the mountain himself, and other rice paper, brushes, and paints bought forty dollars; as for today’s fried buns, a total of five pans were fried, and one pot can fry up to 63 or so. They were all sold out at once, and they bought a total of [-] yuan, and the raw flour and pork cost almost [-] yuan.That's about four hundred dollars.

Gu Qiu carefully packed these copper plates into the small purse he sewed, and weighed the heavy weight, Gu Qiu felt that his hanging heart was a little relieved.Four hundred dollars is really not much, but at least he can use the money to buy himself a wedding dress and add a few dowries, which is much better than having nothing at all.

Putting down his purse, Gu Qiu picked up the sympathy knots he had in the city today—one for himself and one for Lin Dashan.He stroked the somewhat messy tassels on the knot with his hands, and Gu Qiu couldn't put it down when he saw the bright red color.It wasn't until the oil lamp burned a little dimly that Gu Qiu carefully put the money bag in the cabinet next to the bed and put the concentric knot under the pillow before falling asleep at ease.