Bianshanhan [farming]

Li Qingwen and the others packed sorghum rice and millet, and when they left, the cart was filled with rice, wheat, and six sheep.

Rice and wheat are used as seeds, so Chen Shanhe specially went to the village where the seeds are kept every year to exchange them.

As for the sheep, when Mrs. Chen and the others were about to leave, someone drove the sheep past. Li Qingwen stared at the sheep for a long time, and Chen Shanhe went to discuss with the family who raised the sheep. He bought six sheep and asked his little nephew to lead them. Go back and kill and eat.

In the various eyes of the villagers in Laoniuwan, the Li family pushed the cart and left with the sheep.

The slope in front was not very easy to walk, Chen Dingxin and Chen Shan helped them push it all the way up, and they didn't leave until Li Qingwen and the others went down the ditch.

Li Qingfeng led the leading sheep, and the rest of the sheep followed obediently. He said to Chen Shi: "Mother, I just ate a few extra meals of rice from my second uncle's house, and you said a few words, dear!" My son wants this and that at the second uncle's house, why don't you train him?"

"Zaier wants these things to be useful." Chen Shi said: "If you want these things, you must eat them in your stomach."

"Ah?" Li Qingfeng was stunned for a moment, "Didn't this sheep be pulled back to kill and eat?"

"Little brother, I want to drive these sheep to the border town." Li Qingwen looked at the specially selected healthy sheep, "The wild goat over there smells too strong!"

He thought he would be able to eat mutton when he got home, so Li Qingfeng hurriedly took over the matter of leading the sheep, but now the mutton flew away from his mouth?

Feeling dark in front of his eyes, Li Qingfeng struggled and said: "Can this sheep go that far, don't die of exhaustion halfway!"

"No." Li Maoxian looked back at the face of his fourth son, and couldn't help laughing immediately, "The sheep walk a long way to eat grass every day, and they are too tired to walk. You put it in the car."

Li Qingwen also encouraged: "Little fourth brother, after arriving in the border town, these sheep will give birth to lambs, and when they grow up, they will be able to give birth to lambs. There will be more and more lambs in the future. If you want to eat, I will make them for you every day."

Li Qingwen cheered up a little when he heard this, and asked, "How many cubs will the sheep give birth in a year?"

There is no free land near Yangshu Village, so none of the villages raise sheep.

"Two to three litters." Mrs. Chen said with a smile: "The service is good, two or three litters can survive."

Li Qingfeng stopped talking, and began to calculate in his heart how many lambs he could end up getting in a year.

When the Li family returned to Yangshu Village, they were also stared at by the villagers. Someone asked them where they were going to go to the market. They were happy when Mrs. Chen said that she would go back to her natal home, and asked her to go back to her natal home several times in the future, so that she would not worry about eating and drinking for a year.

Li Zhengxing hadn't seen his mother for many days, but when he saw Jiang's tears, he threw himself on her and hugged her without letting go.

Li Qingrui couldn't help asking, "Father, why did you stay here for so long?"

Without waiting for Li Maoxian to say anything, Li Qinghong told about their brick firing in Laoniuwan.

Li Qingrui smiled, "I said why there are so many people on this trip. It turns out that we have planned it for a long time, and we have made great achievements again."

Li Maoxian asked if there was any movement at the county seat.

Li Qingrui said: "Before, there was an officer escorting two prisoners through the county seat. The officer had a bad temper. He got angry without asking a few questions. In addition, since you didn't come back, I didn't go looking for them."

Li Maoxian nodded, and didn't feel it was a pity. The journey is long, and everything must be done carefully. If you encounter an official who doesn't speak well, you'd better be cautious if you're afraid that something might go wrong on the road.

Li Qingrui was going to the county town to deliver food to Li Maoqun, and Li Maoxian followed, with money in his pocket.

Li Qingwen started to practice calligraphy when he came back. After delaying for these days, he just got a little familiar with the postures and things, and then became unfamiliar again. He didn't dare to slack off.

Later, Li Maoxian came back, still holding a wooden box in his hand. Several boys came up to see what was there or something, but when they opened it, there were a few thick books inside, and they were scattered like birds and beasts on the spot. .

Li Qingfeng covered his head and called, "Father, I haven't finished reading these yet."

Li Maoxian said without changing his face: "You read yours, I'll copy a few books, you take them to the border town to read, let me say first, you can't finish memorizing those two books, so don't go out, honestly read them to me at home !"

This move worked so well, even though Li Qingfeng was in extreme pain, he didn't dare to procrastinate any longer, and quickly started to recite it.

Li Maoxian unfolded the book carefully, dipped in the ink and began to copy seriously.

The number of words in the book is much more than the usual letters, and some words Li Maoxian doesn’t quite understand. He first read the book carefully to see how to write it, and then copied it stroke by stroke. Write the words on it, and ask the shopkeeper of the book shop when you return the book.

As I was writing, my waist hurt a little, and I couldn't hold it anymore, so Li Maoxian got up and beat his waist. After a long time, he sat there and barely moved.

In the evening, when Mrs. Chen was nagging, he put away his books.

Li Qingwen watched silently from the side.

Maybe it was because reading was too easy in his previous life. He didn't feel that reading and literacy is such a valuable thing. His father didn't think so. I can't help but be moved.

Before going to bed at night, Li Qingwen asked his father to lie on the kang and massage his waist.

Originally, he wanted to press for a quarter of an hour, but Li Maoxian was afraid that his wrist would not be able to bear it. After all, he had to practice calligraphy during the day, so he agreed in a while.

After returning to Yangshu Village, Li Qingwen's life suddenly became simpler. He ate, slept and practiced calligraphy every day, and then silently waited for news from the county seat.

At this time, the border town thousands of miles away was bustling with activity.

Jiang Liping and the others just came back from patrolling. They were so tired that they could almost sleep standing up, and they were immediately driven to open land again.

Fortunately, the officers and soldiers also gave them orders to farm cattle, otherwise those lands would not be able to be done by hand alone.

After the snow melts, there is mud everywhere, and people are dirty every day. No one cares about it. The warmth in the border town is very short-lived. We must seize all the time to put the seeds in the soil early. A few days later, the final harvest may be heavenly. Different.

The seeds distributed by the officers and soldiers are mixed with good and bad. The exiles can continue planting in this way, but they have to hand over half of the autumn harvest, and the rest can be kept for their own food. If the harvest is not good, they will be punished if they do not pay enough. If you have to eat, you can only drink the northwest wind.

So, there is no way. Everyone plows the land during the day and picks seeds at night, and their eyes are almost blinded.

Sun Yonghao and the others don't know how to farm, so they came here to learn. It's not something that can be seen just by looking at it. The people in their family can't even hold a plow stick. It's terrible to plant hundreds of acres of land at once.

There was no way, Jiang Liping assigned several people to farm for his family, and asked people from the Sun family to come to them to get some seeds.

Jiang Cong went to plant Li Qingwen and Li Maoqun's land, as long as he could see it, he would plant it until midnight, so that they could get acquainted with the old Xingtou and the others, and they could take the cattle that had rested to plant in rotation.

Jiang Liping and the others also helped. When they were working, everyone said that if Li Qingwen and the others didn't come this year and the grain in the field was returned, they would be rude and just let go of their stomachs and eat their fill.

Jiang Cong didn't argue with each other, but just worked hard.

Fortunately, there are many of them, and they are all young and strong. They not only do their own work, but also help others. Besides farming, they have to mow grass and feed horses every day.

After planting the land, before taking a breather, the officers and soldiers took them all to Lu Gang, and were ordered to hunt bears and capture them alive!

Half of Lu Gang's face was ruined. I heard that the Tianling cover was leaked, so he could survive. This man's life is harder than granite.

At this time, the wild beasts that had been hungry all winter began to move out. Going out to hunt was the most dangerous, but they couldn't disobey the order, so Jiang Cong and others had to go out.

Until June, there was still no movement in the county town. Those in the village who had agreed to go to the border town couldn't hold back anymore. They came to Li's house and asked whether they should go first and wait later. It was too cold to hurry.

Li Qingrui and the others shook their heads without even thinking about it. They didn't even know the way, but they didn't dare to wander around. If they lost their way in the wilderness, they would be courting death.

While eating, Jiang suddenly covered her mouth, ran outside the door and vomited.

The Li family members who were eating were stunned for a moment, but it was Chen who reacted first, happily handed water to his daughter-in-law, and instructed Li Qingrui to hurry to the doctor.

Li Qingwen was startled, still thinking that what he ate was sorghum rice, was it poisoned, or was it spoiled?

When the doctor came, he said that it was a happy event, and the Li family was overjoyed.

The sickness reaction had little to do with the previous births. Jiang was tortured very badly. She couldn't eat anything, and almost vomited bile.

This is not going to work, Mrs. Chen will make up for her alone, and go to the county to buy some sour appetizing candied fruit, wishing to put her eyeballs on Mrs. Jiang's body and watch.

The eldest sister-in-law was pregnant suddenly, so Li Qinghong told the elder brother not to go to the border town, but to stay at home, and they just went.

Li Qingrui felt sorry for his daughter-in-law, but he was even more worried about his younger brother. It's not easy to travel such a long way.

Finally, Li Maoxian spoke, "I'll go, the boss stays at home."

The whole family was stunned, and Li Qingrui said anxiously: "Father, how can you bear this upheaval at your age, you are going, we are even more worried at home."

Li Maoxian smiled, "No matter how far away you are, there is a head. Besides, you will also miss me when you go to my house. Why don't you go and have a look, maybe you can rest assured."

Although Jiang was reluctant to leave Li Qingrui, she also didn't want her father-in-law to suffer even at this age. As soon as she wanted to speak, nausea came out of her mouth, retching non-stop.

Li Qingfeng looked at his eldest brother, then at his father, and said, "Zaier, the three of us can go, and Uncle Maoqun and those two brothers from the Liu family."

Li Maoxian shook his head, "Jiang Cong and the others may stay there for five years, ten years, or even a lifetime. I'm afraid Zai'er will live in the border town permanently in the future. I have to go while I can still walk."

Li Qingwen's heart trembled when he heard the words, he only said that he would go to the border town to earn money, he didn't say how long he would stay, it turned out that his father had already noticed.

Li Maoxian looked at his worried sons, and said: "Don't underestimate your father, if you really want to walk, you may not be as strong as me."

"That's true." Li Qinghong had a bitter face, knowing that his father would not change his mind once he made up his mind, and no one could persuade him.

Mrs. Chen didn't make a sound, but went to rummage in the cabinet.

It was a coincidence that the Li family decided to change people, and Li Maoqun ran back to the village, saying that more than a dozen guards had escorted the exile to the county seat, and he would continue to go north tomorrow morning.

At this moment, there was no room for further entanglement, and the Li family immediately threw the packed luggage into the car, notified those in the village who wanted to go, and immediately set off for the county.

During the days of rest, Li Qingwen and Li Maoqun had completed customs clearance guides, but Li Maoxian hadn't done so yet.

After arriving at the county seat, Li Maoxian, Li Qingrui, and Li Maoqun went to the yamen, and those people in the village who insisted on following them also hurriedly followed.

Just like last time, Li Qingwen went to Huichun Hall and asked Dr. Lu to prescribe a lot of medicines. The medicines for trauma and fever were the most. If he got sick in a border town, there would be no doctors to see him.

Doctor Lu knew that they were going far away, so he added some medicines that might be needed. Li Qingwen believed in the old doctor, so he took whatever he prescribed, and Doctor Lu finally gave him a few bottles of medicine powder to stop bleeding.

The people in the yamen already knew Li Maoqun, and they knew what he was going to do without opening their mouths. Someone offered to help them guide them, of course they just wanted to get some benefits.

Ordinary people can't directly enter the yamen, they have to be ventilated by officials or people inside, although they are not happy, this money can't be saved.

In the past, they seldom dealt with the yamen, and they didn’t understand anything. These few times, they have found some ways, and they also understand that they were fooled by Chen Shan last time, and he accepted what could be done with one or two taels of silver last time. Twelve taels and one copper plate were not returned!

Seeing that it would cost money to run the guide, the people who followed in the village murmured. Some people gritted their teeth and took out the money.

Li Qingrui and Li Maoxian said that they didn't care, but they couldn't really look at them in a difficult situation. They helped them get some, and then pleaded with the official. Seeing that they really couldn't afford too much, although they were not very satisfied, the official accepted it.

Li Qingrui also went to arrange for the officials to go to the border town, stuffed money, and set up a banquet.

Li Benshan came together, brought a lot of dry food and a few pairs of shoes, and came to see Li Maoqun off.It was only when he knew that Li Maoxian was going, so he could rest assured that they would definitely help with the family affairs, and also asked him to take care of Li Maoqun.

These are things that don't need to be said, but I still can't help but say a few words.

He didn't know when he would come back from this trip, so Li Maoqun kept the rest of the money and told Mrs. Chen that he would ask for help if he encountered any difficulties.

Mrs. Chen looked at him and said: "In the past, you often took your children out. I knew about these things a long time ago. Don't worry, you don't have to worry about your family."

The night before he left, he couldn't sleep, but Li Qingfeng couldn't sleep because he was too excited. He had learned how to ride a horse, and he had already started thinking about riding a horse and shooting a bow at the border city.

No matter how beautiful he thought, the next day, he had to lead the sheep and set off.

Li Benshan and the others also stayed overnight, sending them outside the county together with Mrs. Chen. I don't know whether to trust Li Maoxian or feel that there are more people this time and feel more at ease. Eye socket said to let them measure Jiang Cong and make some new clothes next time.

Li Qingrui told his younger brothers one by one to be obedient and not to wander around, especially saying a few more words to Li Qingfeng.

When the officials yelled to set off, the Li family also set off, waved goodbye to their relatives and headed north.

At the beginning, the big guy was a little bored because of leaving home, but after walking a hundred miles away, he thought more about the road in front of him.

The two cars were loaded with things, Li Qingwen and the others were walking, some people in the village were pushing the carts, some were carrying the loads, and the front ones were exiles in shackles. It was a bit strange for them to pass through the town. , will attract a lot of people to see it.

Li Qingfeng was probably the one who received the most attention. He was a little annoyed at first, but then he didn't care.

Li Qinghong wanted to take turns driving the sheep, but the sheep didn't seem to listen to him very much, so Li Qingfeng had to come in the end.

Li Maoqun looked at it and laughed, "This sheep is like a human being, and it knows who to mess with."

Li Qingwen laughed unkindly when he heard it, but Li Qingfeng was quite proud of it.

Among the more than 20 people who followed the Li family, a few were from Yangshu Village with the surnames Han and Guo, and the rest were from other villages, and they were all faceless.

At the beginning, there were countless people who went to Li’s house to ask questions, and many of them firmly said that they would go. When they arrived in the county, some of them went back after seeing the money for the road guide. When they left, there were only these 20 people left. .

These people listened to what Li Qingrui and Li Maoxian said about how dangerous it was, and kept worrying about it, but when they saw the Li family driving the sheep, talking and laughing on the road, they were really not sure whether their previous words were true or not.

Just when they were wondering, Li Maoqun took a step behind and said to them, "This is just the beginning, and there is still a long way to go."

Some of them hadn't walked very far, and the load on their backs and shoulders was carried according to the weight they could usually carry. As a result, after walking for a few days, their bodies couldn't bear it anymore.

The sun in June is not a vegetarian, it hangs there brightly, and you will sweat profusely when you are naked, let alone when you are carrying a heavy load.

Of course, throwing away is extremely reluctant. I can only see if I can sell it when I pass by the town. The rations on the road must not be moved. I can only pick up those things that have little effect. Although it hurts, it is really hard to carry move.

At this time, the benefits of mules and horses appeared, and everyone secretly made up their minds that if they made money this time, they would definitely buy an animal to carry heavy loads.

The exiles escorted this time included men, women and children. Unlike Jiang Cong and the others at that time, the yamen guards took great care of them, and would only yell at them if they walked slowly, and would not wave their whips at every turn.

There were twenty or thirty oxen and horse-drawn carts accompanying the exiles. Strong servants drove the carts, and they would immediately hand over water and food when they rested. With silk and satin on the top, people who don't know it think it's a homecoming.

Li Maoxian sometimes went to talk to the servants, and from what they said, he probably knew that these people were surnamed Qian. His wife and children were exiled.

When speaking, those guards always showed some mystery inadvertently, as if the case of the Qian family was not that simple, and there was an inside story in it.

This Li Maoxian didn't ask too many questions, for fear of getting himself into trouble.

Under the scorching sun, they arrived at Yuanbei City, rested here for half a day, and continued to go north after exiting the pass.

Without the snow cover, I can finally see the situation on the ground. Weeds are everywhere, and the edge cannot be seen at a glance.

Fortunately, Li Qingfeng was able to restrain the leading sheep, otherwise these sheep would not be able to walk looking at the grass around their mouths.

The weather is sweating a lot, and water is absolutely indispensable. Li Maoxian inquired about the itinerary with the guards. When he arrived at the post station, he would ask the postman there where there is a river and where there is water. .