Bianshanhan [farming]

In autumn, when the sky is high and the wind is strong, the tassels in the yard are dried in the sun in two or three days, and the grains rustle from the fingers when they are gently twisted by hand.

On the day of playing field, the head of the village, Guo Daquan, brought his family's Luke. The mule pulled the Luke and rolled it over the spread tassels in circles. The tassels were flattened, and the grain particles fell off.

Livestock is an expensive property for peasant households. Those who can raise donkeys are considered good in every village. Mules are strong, not only can carry carts, but also carry much more weight than donkeys, so the price is twice as much as donkeys. many.

In Yangshu Village, only Guo Daquan's family had a mule. When it was pulled to the yard, it attracted the curious eyes of many children.

Li Maoxian and Guo Daquan were talking on the side, Li Qingmu led the mule to press the field, Chen Shi and Li Qinghong kept walking and turning over the tassels.

This morning, Li Qingwen's family was going to fight, and there were more people here than that day. When the sorghum syrup was made, everyone wanted to buy it from Li Maoxian, and they all expected him to help squeeze the sugar next year.

At this time, there were more women in the courtyard, and when someone saw Li Qingwen, they came up to tease him, saying that he was so pale and tender that he didn't look like a farm boy, but like a young master in the city.

Although it's been a while since he woke up, Li Qingwen didn't go up the mountain much, he was always thinking about making money, and spent most of his time at home, compared to those tanned kids running around madly, he was a bit conspicuous.

Li Qingwen dealt with this group of aunts and women in a strict manner. Because he was not familiar with them, he seemed a little well-behaved and honest.

The women were annoyed by their own leather monkeys. At first glance, they all praised Li Qingwen to Mr. Chen for being sensible and stable.

Li Qingwen's ears were burning. In fact, he was not very honest. It was just that he had just arrived in this strange era, and he hadn't fully adapted to it, so he couldn't act without scruples like his little fourth brother.

It was obvious that the youngest son was reserved among the group of people, so Chen said: "My son, don't stand in the limelight and lose your eyes, go and ask Uncle Guo if he drinks water."

Knowing that his mother was looking for an excuse to rescue him, Li Qingwen walked around the yard slowly and headed north.

Before he got there, Guo Daquan came down from the field ridge and went back along the back.

When Li Maoxian returned to work in the yard, Li Qingwen always felt that his father seemed to have something on his mind, and the wrinkles between his brows never calmed down.

After pressing for two hours, the upper layer of crushed tassels was removed, and the lower grain particles were pushed together to form a tall grain pile.

It is also unfortunate that the wind that was blowing non-stop just now is weak at this time. The wind that is too small cannot blow off the chaff in the grain particles, and it cannot be blown away for the time being.

The two sugar cane beds at home were borrowed, and those who didn’t find them came to ask Li Maoxian how to do it. Li Maoxian went to the house and somehow hurt his hand. His thumb nail was split and half fell off. , Blood flowed all over his hands.

Chen didn't ask any more questions, and took out a paper bag from the box, which contained the hemostatic medicine that Li Qingzhuo specially brought back.

"I won't have a stream later, and I won't be blinded by the medicine." Li Maoxian was unwilling to take the medicine.

Chen grabbed the paper bag and said nothing, but her face sank.

Li Qingwen was outside watching his little nephew pick up eggs, when he heard the voice in the room, he went in immediately and said, "Father, the wound is quite serious, and we still don't need medicine, I'm afraid it won't heal for a while, procrastination will delay things even more."

Seeing his younger son's serious face, Li Maoxian took the paper bag over.

It was his right hand that was injured, and it must be difficult to apply medicine to his left hand. Mrs. Chen wanted to help, but the two of them tugged back and forth. For some reason, the paper bag fell off and the medicine powder scattered all over the floor.

"What's the matter with you today?" Mrs. Chen was angry, "Several people are looking for you, you have to go to Han Laoqi's house first! Such a lazy bastard, our family has a job these days, and we haven't even seen a trace of him Now that he wants to make something, you go to help him to do the work and don’t say anything, and he won’t say anything when his hand is hurt.”

Normally, Li Maoxian didn't pay much attention to Chen's complaints, but today he was probably annoyed, and frowned and said: "He is a little lazy, he is a nice person, I only help his family when he has something to do, and I was not careful when he was injured. Don't rely on others."

Mrs. Chen is a hardworking person, and she despises those who are lazy the most. Hearing Li Maoxian's intercession, he became so angry that he shook his hand and left.

Li Maoxian stood there for a long time, sighed, squatted down, and wanted to see if he could take back some powder, but found that it was scattered everywhere, so he had to give up.

When eating, Chen's movement of putting the bowl was obviously louder than usual, and Li Maoxian kept lowering his eyes.

After eating, Li Maoxian wanted to go to the courtyard, but Mrs. Chen didn't stop her, her eyes were red, this time it was more distressing.

Li Qingwen was a little at a loss, Jiang came over and said: "Zai'er, I'll go and persuade mother, dad seems to have something on his mind, you go and ask, he doesn't like to talk to us, he always has things in his heart."

When Li Qingwen went out, Li Qinghong followed without making a sound. There was still no wind in the backyard. At this time, almost everyone in the village was rushing to harvest in the fields, and Li Maoxian was the only one in the yard.

"Father, do your hands still hurt?" Li Maoxian poked his finger into the tender flesh behind the broken nail, feeling his heart throbbing.

"It doesn't hurt, it's not a big deal, it's fine if you don't bleed." Li Maoxian didn't take it seriously.

"Father, you'd better be careful, mother is so distressed, otherwise she wouldn't be in a hurry with you..."

"Your sister-in-law asked you to come here." Li Maoxian smiled.

Li Qingwen nodded, and said honestly: "Sister-in-law said that you seem to have something on your mind... Did you encounter any difficulties, Dad?"

Looking into the clear eyes of his youngest son, Li Maoxian paused, and said: "Just now you Uncle Guo said that you wanted to report the method of making sorghum syrup to the government. Father has been thinking about this year's autumn money that can't be reduced or exempted in the village."

The so-called autumn money is a kind of miscellaneous tax in Liushan County. The new tax was ordered to be levied by the new county magistrate when he first took office last year. In the first year, each household pays more than 35 cash, and this year it is said that it will rise to [-] cash.

When harvesting autumn grain, the officials of the yamen will go to various villages to check the grain and collect money. If they cannot pay on time, the autumn grain government in the whole village will not collect it. Pay food in a special place, and there will be trouble again by the government servants.

Last year, several villages did not pay in full, and they were not only fined, but also suffered a lot of crimes. Up to now, when it comes to this autumn money deficit, farmers in Liushan County will be shocked.

"Father, isn't it a good thing to be able to get the bounty and be tax-free? Why worry about that?" Li Qinghong, who had been silent all this time, couldn't help interjecting.

Li Maoxian sighed deeply, "You may not know how important it is to make sorghum syrup. We mainly use sorghum in the north, and one mu of land can produce so much sugar. Isn't it tens of thousands of mu, hundreds of thousands of mu? Dare to think. Sorghum yields so much grain and can get so much sugar, if the local county magistrate reports to the court, it will probably be regarded as a great achievement."

Li Qingwen understood a little bit, "Dad doesn't want the county magistrate to take the credit?"

Li Maoxian nodded, "Zai'er is right. The county magistrate of our Liushan County is a corrupt official, a villain, who ravages the neighbors. Although Dad is a low-level citizen, he is unwilling to serve as a horse stool for such a dog official. He is determined to seek success. Climbing, for the sake of merit, he will use all means to increase taxes and exploit the people, while offering rewards to important people for their advice. I don't want that black-hearted money, and I absolutely don't want to give this credit to him, but the lack of money in autumn really embarrasses the villagers."

35 Wen is not a small amount for many farmers, and this year's tax is not the only one.

Li Maoxian didn't want the corrupt officials to gain political achievements, and he didn't want the villagers to empty their pockets for tax money, so he made it so difficult.

After a long while, Li Qingwen suddenly asked, "Father, I, Uncle Qin, are the county magistrates in Li County, right?"

Li Maoxian froze for a moment, then nodded.

"If I remember correctly, this sweet stalk of sorghum was brought back from Li County, right?" Li Qingwen said, "Father can tell Uncle Qin about the sorghum syrup as soon as possible, and credit him with the credit first." body, so that others will not be able to take advantage of it.”

With just one sentence, Li Maoxian suddenly became enlightened, "Yes, yes! My son, you have a good idea. Dad was going to write to you, Uncle Qin, because they grow sweet sorghum!"

Li Maoxian hurriedly wanted to go home and write a letter. Li Qingwen followed behind and said, "Father, you don't have to worry too much about the money shortage in autumn. Our village has planted more than ten acres of sweet sorghum this year. Don't you give us all the syrup?" Home, we can use these syrups to make hawthorn rolls and Shaqima and sell them, and the money we get can be lent to our family for tax deduction. Of course, this tax is not free, let them pay it back next year with sorghum stalks, syrup or money Let's deal with emergencies first this year."

What Li Qingwen thought was that sweet sorghum was so good that every household in the village would plant it next year, and everyone would earn a fortune.

Li Maoxian stopped abruptly, and looked at his younger son with burning eyes, "Zai'er, you are still thoughtful!"

Li Qingwen rolled his eyes, "Father actually thinks more than I do, it's just because he thinks too much that he panicked for a while. I learned all this from my father and elder brother."

Not caring about talking too much, Li Maoxian started writing immediately after returning home. The inkstone was completely worn out, and he wrote a thick letter with no hesitation on the paper.

Hearing that the letter was to be sent to Li County urgently, Mrs. Chen silently took out all the money in the family.

The money for selling sugar just received was taken to the county seat by Li Maoxian before it was warm in his hands.

When Li Maoxian came back from the county, there was no sorrow in his eyes, and he even smiled.

The wind picked up in the evening, Li Qingmu and his elder brother and second brother arrived early, the three of them took turns to show off, but Li Maoxian didn't need to make a move.

While raising, they bagged, and when the raising was over, the grain on the yard was carried back home by those who came to help.

Li Maoxian made up his mind, and told everyone in the family that night that no matter who asked about the sorghum syrup, they would not know, and if they had anything to ask, they would call him.

Knowing that this was the youngest son's idea, Mrs. Chen couldn't help sighing: "Zai'er has a clever mind. If he had been born decades earlier and learned to read and write with his husband, he would definitely be able to be an official."

Hearing this, Li Qingwen immediately recalled the hardship and pain of studying for more than ten years in his previous life, and blurted out: "Mom, I don't want to study!"

The voice was really miserable. The whole family looked over and said in surprise: "Zai'er is so smart, don't you like reading? Farming is very tiring. A bead of sweat hits the eight petals on the ground. It may not be possible to work for a year." Harvesting, reading and writing, being able to calculate accounts and manage affairs, is much better than farming.”

Li Qingwen shook his head like a rattle, looked at his father pleadingly, and said, "I don't study."

Even if he is studying, he has to rest for a few years. After finishing the college entrance examination, will he fall into a deeper pit again?

Li Maoxian was amused by his appearance, "Don't be afraid, son. The scientific examination has been suspended for decades now, and there is no way out for reading. Even if our family has money, we will not force you to study, but you still need to be able to read. Being blind makes no difference."

Li Qingwen nodded his head, "You need to know the characters."