No pain no gain

This time the basket was sold for more than 100 copper coins, plus the money for selling eggs, a total of 180 copper coins, Da Zhuang gritted his teeth and spent [-] copper coins to buy things for the New Year, the biggest expense I just sold a piece of yellow cloth with small floral patterns and a piece of dark blue cloth with some seed-removed cotton. This is to make new clothes for everyone. There are two women whose husbands died in the village. On weekdays, they make a living by doing some needlework. When the daughters-in-law in the village are too busy, they will pay a little money or bring some things to help them make clothes. Once he got used to it, he would go to them for any unfinished needlework. Da Zhuang planned to ask one of them for help this time.

Chinese New Year is coming, although there are only a few children in the family, there are still things to do, such as cleaning, preparing various meals...

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, after Da Zhuang tidied up the kitchen, he sat down and continued weaving baskets. These were intended to be sold in the spring of the coming year and brought back in exchange for seeds.

"Big Brother, Er Zhuang, are you at home?"

Da Zhuang heard the voice of the third boy from the uncle's family, and asked Da Niuer to open the yard door.

"Sister Da Niu'er, I'm here to ask you to have a reunion dinner at San Ge's house!" San'er yelled loudly while standing at the gate of the yard.

The eldest girl cheered a little, turned around and ran into the yard and shouted to Da Zhuang: "Big brother, big brother, I'm going to uncle's house for a reunion dinner today!"

The third son of the uncle's family called Da Zhuang the big brother, and the eldest girl they called the big sister, the second sister, and the third sister. Only Er Zhuang, who was about the same age as him, was called by his name.

Only then did Da Zhuang remember that before the accident happened, the father and mother of this body would go to the uncle's house for dinner every year before Chinese New Year, and invite them back again. The two families are considered to be reunited.

Da Zhuang responded, packed his things, closed the door and the yard door, and walked towards the uncle's house with a group of children talking and laughing.

When I arrived at the uncle's house, the eldest sister was already setting up the dishes. Seeing Da Zhuang and the others coming, she wiped her hands and went forward to take the three Zhuang from Da Zhuang's hand, calling them to sit around the table first.

The eldest aunt was still very enthusiastic today, she brought up the dishes and asked Da Zhuang and the others to eat.

Da Zhuang took a look. The main course was a large pot of stewed cabbage with pork. There were six or seven winter vegetables or dried vegetables on the side, plus a plate of peanuts. This is the most hearty dish this farm can make. .

On weekdays, when everyone treats guests or eats together, women and children are not allowed at the table, but today is a reunion dinner, and they are all relatives, so the etiquette is not mentioned, and the two families sat around the table.

Perhaps because of the large number of people, Da Zhuang felt that the taste of those dishes was really not very good. Er Zhuang and his uncle's children, including uncle and aunt, all ate very happily.

Da Zhuang hugged Si Zhuang, the eldest sister helped to hold San Zhuang, and the eldest girl took care of San Niu while eating by herself. The guys were laughing and scrambling to eat.

In the afternoon, Da Zhuang asked Er Zhuang, Da Niuer, and Er Niuer to stay at his uncle's house to play, and he took San Niuer and the twins back home, put them to take a nap, continued weaving baskets in his free time, and planned in his heart that he would also give them tomorrow. Burn a meal and go back to the uncle's house.

Er Zhuang and their new clothes have been handed over to Widow Wang at the head of the village to make them. Speaking of which, Widow Wang and this body are still related. The two families usually do not move around when there is no major event. Later, Widow Wang's man fell to his death on the mountain, leaving Widow Wang and their mother and daughter. Without the man in charge, they moved even less.

In the afternoon, Widow Wang and her youngest daughter sent over clothes, five new cotton-padded clothes, large and small, and made a pair of trousers for the three sisters Er Zhuang and Da Niuer.

Widow Wang's only daughter is named Wang Nannan. She usually controls her little daughter very tightly and rarely lets her go out. Today, because it is almost Chinese New Year and she is going to a relative's house, she took her daughter out to get some air.

Da Zhuang enthusiastically invited the mother and daughter to sit in the yard, and let San Niuer play house with her daughter. Da Zhuang took great pains to find the things for San Niuer’s play house for her. There are pots, pans and pans. Yes, it is neatly packed in a small basket. Although it is just stones, tiles, and wooden blocks, it is the best thing in the heart of San Niuer, who is over one year old. She carries the small basket by herself every day. Squatting in the corner of the yard, you can play for half a day.

Nannuan is only four years old this year, and she usually suffers from suffocation at home. Now she has already played with San Niuer. The two little girls are squatting in the corner, digging sand and whispering to each other. .

Da Zhuang touched the new padded jacket sent by Widow Wang. It was filled with cotton and was very thick. Widow Wang also made several pairs of socks with the leftover fabric.

From the original memory of this body, Da Zhuang knows that people here have grown cotton a long time ago, but few people weave cotton cloth. Linen is cheap, rich people think silk is more glamorous, plus various other reasons, resulting in unsalable cotton. With fewer processing steps, the cost is also reduced, so farmers in many places suitable for growing cotton are still willing to grow some.

Da Zhuang has never seen an old-fashioned loom, and he doesn't know the principle of a loom. Although he knows the current situation of cotton cloth here, he has never produced any single-handedly modified looms to change the cotton market. It is not a technical issue at all. The wisdom of the ancients cannot be underestimated. The consciousness that people have formed in an era is difficult to change.

Da Zhuang chatted with Widow Wang for a while, and Widow Wang was about to say goodbye and go home, but the daughter-in-law was having fun, and Widow Wang was reluctant to drag her youngest daughter home.

Seeing Widow Wang's embarrassment, Da Zhuang said with a smile: "Aunt Wang, let my daughter play here for a while, I will let Er Zhuang and the others send her back later!"

Widow Wang still hesitated.

Da Zhuang knew that Widow Wang was a young widow and lived with a young daughter, and her reputation was more important than anything else, so he even cared so much about the little girl when she came out to play.

"Aunt Wang, you can go back and do your work, Nannan just played at relatives' house for a while, it's fine!" Da Zhuang persuaded.

Widow Wang was reluctant to part with her little daughter who had had so much fun playing for a while, so she reluctantly agreed to Da Zhuang, and made up her mind to come and pick up her daughter before dark...