pastoral life

After welcoming Fang Tiezhu into the house, Mingzhu was still a little dazed, although he never worried that Wang Mingchuan's ability would not even pass the exam as a scholar, but that would have to be after the next year's review. What is the situation? !

"A lot of people have inquired about you along the way, especially those bastards in Xiawan. Oh, you didn't see the faces of those people in Xiawan. Tsk tsk tsk, it really smells worse than cow dung."

Fang Tiezhu imitated the expressions of those people in an exaggerated way, which made Xiaohu very happy.

"Fortunately, I went to the city to take a look. The kid who read the list is a fool who only looks at the names of the people behind him. He didn't dare to look at any of the top ten, and he didn't see any of the more than 100 people behind him. Chuanzi then went to the village to report the news. Our family naturally didn’t believe it. Huang Bing and that bastard passed the exam. How could someone like Chuanzi not pass the exam? Hey, guess what happened? I rushed to the city to see When I made the list, I saw the words Wang Mingchuan clearly written on the front of the head, counting from the front to the back, no more, no less, exactly the seventh!"

Fang Tiezhu described what he had seen and heard along the way with vigor, as if he was the seventh person in the exam. Mingzhu somehow recovered and retreated into the room to take out ten copper coins from the jar under the bed.Their family didn't have much money left, and such a big porcelain jar actually only contained more than 100 copper coins. If they encountered important things, how could they have enough money, and now they had to think about ways to increase income.

Mingzhu wrapped the copper coins threaded with red paper and went back outside the house. At this time, Fang Tiezhu was already surrounded by Dahe and others asking questions. These little ones were naturally excited when they learned that their elder brother had a promising future in school. Unlike Mingzhu, Dahe and the others believed that their elder brother was omnipotent in their hearts, so they were not surprised by this result at all, and their eyes were full of admiration for Wang Mingchuan.

"Brother Fang, thank you for your hard work."

Mingzhu stuffed the red paper bag in his hand, but Fang Tiezhu naturally refused to take it. He knew the situation of the Wang family very well, and if he really took the money and went home, his wife would beat him to death.

"Brother, you can take it, and you don't have much money. Mingchuan is thanks to your car pick-up and delivery this time. If you don't even charge this, how can we ask you for help in the future?"

In the end, Mingzhu couldn't hold back and insisted that Fang Tiezhu still kept it. The so-called water overflows, and it is always unlucky not to give bonuses or distribute blessings on happy events. He has the right to take this money to accumulate blessings for these children. Look, everyone in the Wang family will not be down for a long time!

After sending Fang Tiezhu away, Mingzhu glanced at Wang Mingchuan with a strange look—is this kid really a genius?

Mingzhu quickly pulled this idea out of her mind, the genius of the hell, maybe the Wang family's parents had laid a good foundation when they were still there, and it was not too difficult to bump into it in the college entrance examination.

"Today is a happy day, Dahe, take Xiaohu and the others to pick a fatter male duck, and we will stew duck soup today!"

"Oh!"

Wang Dahe took the three little Huanhuanxixi to the yard to trouble the ducks. Since Mingzhu passed the door, although the food at home has improved significantly, there are not many opportunities to eat meat. He can drink a mouthful of broth and then chew. Duck meat is as happy as Chinese New Year.

"Aren't you happy?"

As soon as the children ran out, Wang Mingchuan surrounded Mingzhu from behind familiarly. He was taller than Mingzhu, and he always had to bend his body to put his chin on Mingzhu's shoulder. Mingzhu felt awkward and stretched out his hand to push his The head that gets in the way, Wang Mingchuan is a rogue and refuses to let go when he commits a crime.

"Get up, Dahe and the others are still outside, you want them to see?!"

Wang Mingchuan glanced at his younger siblings outside, curled his lips childishly and rubbed Mingzhu's neck for a long time before standing up.Seeing that the aggrieved face on his face softened like a demon, he immediately took what Ming Chuan said just now,

"I'm not unhappy, it's just that I was too surprised. I can't see that you are really a good student for studying. If you work harder, you may be able to get a champion in the future."

Mingzhu was half joking, but Wang Mingchuan took it seriously in his heart. He looked at his husband and wife deeply, and kept looking away from Mingzhu until his face turned red, and he refused to look back at him.

**

Day by day has to go on, Wang Mingchuan still goes to work in the fields every day after he has the fame of a scholar, he is not like other scholars in the village who do not go out of the house and do not step out of their homes and are pampered like a girl's house Yes, some said he was sensible and responsible, and some scolded him sourly, but no matter what, the Wang family still lived as usual.

When midsummer comes, the wild hawthorns all over the mountain are also ripe, and the bright red ones hanging on the bushes full of spikes are very beautiful.Both the climate and the crops here are very similar to those in Sichuan. The mountain products that Mingzhu used to eat when she was a child can also be found here: mountain mushrooms after the rain, fungus on old trees, shiitake mushrooms in ravines, and mushrooms in the soil under the shade of trees. Ground fungus, both sides of the road are full of wild sweet potato vines, and you can find red, green and round fruits by digging the soil along the seedlings. His favorite is still the various shrubs on the mountain, with different types. But when the result comes, the children in the mountains can be fed all at once.

When I was young, I lived in the mountains and couldn’t go to the city in my spare time. Sugar is a rare commodity, but there are not many fruits. The wild ones include wild hawthorn, wild sweet potato, dragon bean, thorn sickle, and wild milk. There are also many fruit trees grown by myself. There is always no shortage of peaches, apples, cherries and oranges. The most unusual thing is that there is a walnut tree planted outside the yard. In those good years, you can eat a few fresh walnuts.

"Brother Mingzhu, are these all done?"

Wang Xiaoxi spread out a pair of small hands, the palms are full of small wild hawthorns, the little girl is careful, all picked are red, it looks very beautiful against her white and tender palms.Mingzhu rubbed Xiaoxi's head as affirmation, then handed over the porcelain basin in her hand and asked her to pour all the wild hawthorns into it.Xiaotan is younger and can't move smoothly, so he can only help to look after the basket while grabbing wild hawthorn from the basket to eat. It's so sour that his toothache hurts, but it's really sweet to the bottom of his heart.

Wild hawthorn is not actually hawthorn. In fact, Mingzhu has never seen hawthorn in Sichuan, and there is no hawthorn in Chuanshan. Wild hawthorn is just a small fruit that grows on thorny bushes and tastes similar to hawthorn. A quarter of the size of a fingernail, but the clumps are extremely dense. I grabbed a handful and put them all in my mouth. I chewed and swallowed. The sour is sour, but the sweet taste But it is addictive.The children in the rural areas of Sichuan basically grew up eating this. If you go to the countryside and ask casually, there is no one, old or young, who does not know what wild hawthorn is.

"Xiaoxi, be careful not to tie your hand."

Mingzhu just casually reminded the little girl that Xiaoxi is always smart and cautious, so he doesn't worry too much, only Xiaotan...

"Wang Xiaotan, if you keep pushing like this, your teeth will be so soft that you won't be able to chew food at night!"

The little girl glanced at Mingzhu, and very guiltyly hid the big handful of wild hawthorn she was holding behind her back, and when Mingzhu turned her head to continue picking the fruit, she sneakily took it out again, aww, and stuffed it into her mouth with a big gulp. He glanced at the pearl, well, he didn't notice it very well, and then continued to chew the things in his mouth with great satisfaction.

Seeing that it was getting late, Mingzhu put all the hawthorns in the two large porcelain pots full into the back basket, and led the two small ones on the left and the right to go down the mountain to cook. Today, he thought of a way to point out It may not be possible to get money, it is unlikely, but the cost is extremely low but it is worth a try.

**

"What's wrong with Xiaotan?"

During dinner at night, Wang Mingchuan glanced at Wang Xiaotan, who was clutching his teeth and refusing to move his chopsticks. The latter shrank his shoulders guiltily.

"I ate too much wild hawthorn in the afternoon, and my teeth are sore that I can't chew anything."

Hearing this name, Chuan understood. Few of the children in the village had ever done this kind of thing. The wild hawthorn was cooked when the weather was hot, and it was the most sweet and sour appetizer. If you eat too much, your teeth will be too sore to bite. After being fooled by this thing once or twice, you will learn to be smart and restrained. It’s just that you can’t live without the smell in midsummer.

"In the future, you have to remember to have a degree in everything. You have eaten too much of those things, and now you have tasted the consequences yourself?"

Wang Mingchuan tapped the bowl in front of Wang Xiaotan with chopsticks and continued,

"No leftovers are allowed, you have to finish eating before you are allowed to leave the table."

As soon as the elder brother's majesty was displayed, the little girl's eyes immediately became moist, and she turned her head to hope that Brother Mingzhu could save her, but the latter smiled and gave her chopsticks and green vegetables without a word of intercession.

Badass!

In the end, Wang Xiaotan finished a bowl of rice under the gloating eyes of his brothers and sisters. Wang Dahe consciously ran to clean up the chopsticks and wash the dishes, but Mingzhu took Xiaoxi to the water tank to prepare the afternoon. The things that have been taken out are taken out.

"what is this?"

Wang Mingchuan took the things in his hands and looked at them. The texture was soft and reddish, and it smelled slightly sour.

"Try how it tastes. Xiaoxi and I have been busy all afternoon."

Wang Mingchuan threw the long cube into his mouth in one gulp, chewed it twice but felt the way.

"Wild hawthorn?"

Mingzhu nodded with a smile, lifted the lid of the jar, took a saucer, and took out more than ten yuan from the inside, several small ones grabbed each other and took them one by one, put them in their mouths and bit them, as happy as eating honey.

"It's hard for you to think of a way to tidy up this thing. After eating it for more than ten years, I haven't thought about making it look like this. The sour taste has dissipated a little, but it's still appetizing. After the weather gets hot, Xiaohu and the others I don’t like to eat anymore, and with this hawthorn jelly, I can prepare more rice for every meal in the future!”

Wang Mingchuan was not stingy about complimenting Mingzhu, and the latter accepted it unceremoniously, and then shared his plan with Mingchuan while taking advantage of the enthusiasm.

"When it's hot, the appetite is not as good as it used to be. Not only our family, but which ones outside are not? I thought that if the smell is good, I might as well try it in the city and ask Brother Li if he can let it go." It doesn’t matter which dim sum shop you go to for consignment, it doesn’t matter if you try it or not.”

Wang Mingchuan knew that Mingzhu was looking for a way out for the family's livelihood, so he couldn't help showing a little more respect to his husband and wife in his heart, and the expression on his face became softer.Regardless of whether it is successful or not, since Mingzhu has put so much thought into it, he will always accompany her to give it a try.

In the evening, Mingzhu specially asked Xiaoxi to bring a plate to Aunt Jiang's house. The fourth Jiang Xiao brothers were naturally rare for this dish, so they snatched it up in a short while.The two families walked frequently and didn't have much scruples about each other, so after the plate brought over was robbed, the boys went directly to Wang's house to beg for food. Mingzhu prepared two large jars of wild hawthorn cake. Considering the role of these children, I didn't hide it at the moment, and directly took out three big plates on the plate to make the children eat their fill.

The next morning, Mingzhu and Wang Mingchuan entered the city with a pot-bellied jar on their backs. They were still in Fang Tiezhu's bullock cart. Before getting off the cart, Mingzhu gave Fang Tiezhu a small earthen pot. Declining, just scratching my head and thanking again and again.He knows that Mingzhu is good at craftsmanship, and he can always come up with some fresh food because he is quick-witted and quick-witted. The baby girl in the family loves this, not to mention even the daughter-in-law.

The time for the two of them to enter the city was early, and there were not many people at Aunt Li's steamed bun stand. Seeing Mingzhu and his wife approaching, the aunt quickly dropped the steamer in her hand and ran over:

"I've seen you, Xiucai, Wang Xiucai, Chuanzi really passed the exam! Hey, I'm so happy with my old lady. Look, the wrinkles on this face are a little lighter!"

Aunt Li lives in the city and naturally knows the test results of Wang Mingchuan Academy, and it is inevitable that the two parties will talk about it when they get together. Looking at the gap, Mingzhu took a crock pot and handed it to Aunt Li, saying:

"This is something I made myself with mountain products. It's not worth a lot of money. Auntie, take it back and have a taste with grandpa and brother."

Aunt Li didn't refuse even after eating, she took it out and tasted it, and she immediately burst into joy.

"It so happened that I found something I like to eat. It's so hot in this hell, it's the best steamed bun to eat!"

**

Standing outside Tangpinzhai, Mingzhu stopped and looked at the facade... so expensive.

"Brother Li, this restaurant looks like it's a place to eat with gold and gold. Do you really think of me, a country bastard?"

Originally, Mingzhu came to the city to find Aunt Li because she wanted to borrow Li Hu's contacts. The tolerance for maintaining street law and order is the real gatekeeper of every shop. Of course, it is not wrong to introduce dim sum shops for consignment.

It's just that the specifications are a bit high...

Mingzhu couldn't help but confirm with Li Hu again, it's not too bad to run in and be kicked out, at most it's just an embarrassment. It would be a big crime to have such a bright pearl in the business of this store.

"It's okay, the boss of this house is really, I'll ask you, if I can really get into his eyes, I will be able to come and go frequently in the future, so it will save a lot of trouble."

At this point, Mingzhu backed down again, but fell to the bottom. Wang Mingchuan picked up the jar of wild hawthorn cake in the bamboo basket, and then freed his hand to pat Mingzhu on the shoulder. After the exchange of eyes, Mingzhu became a little more courageous, and she took the initiative to pull Wang Mingchuan. With his hands, he walked into the candy store.