The skilled widow is busy farming

Chapter 21

After dinner, Aunt Xu took grandma to take a bath. Grandpa and grandma were old and did not dare to let her bathe alone for fear that they would fall. Uncle Er and Aunt Xu took the initiative to come over and give the old man a bath every two or three days.

Taking care of the elderly is actually taking action, not just collecting food. Sometimes the second uncle is too busy, so the children and daughter-in-law take the initiative to come and help.

"Mom, I'm leaving. If you need anything, call me."

Aunt Xu washed all the clothes of her parents-in-law and hung them on the rack. After finishing her work, she patted the clothes and said hello.

"Go back, it's been a busy day."

Grandma waved her hand.

The couple went out and walked back. Aunt Xu talked to the man on the way.

"Did you know that Xiu Niang is going to buy a shop and open a tavern?"

"I know. He greeted us earlier. He's angry."

The two of them walked home slowly. Now that the sun had set, there was a bit of coolness. It was quite cool to cuddle up against the red and green trees, and it was very comfortable to take a walk.

"I told you that we need two families to work together. The wasteland can also be used to grow vegetables. The pigs, cattle and sheep raised can be used in the tavern. This kid has thought out everything step by step. I have never seen him so calculating before."

"I used to be smart and capable, but now Brother Ping is doing his best, and you can't tell Xiu Niang's talent. You only know that she can weave tapestry paintings, but in fact, Brother Ping cannot do anything in the clan without Xiu Niang behind his back. Giving advice, helping the orphans, the old and the weak all the year round is not what Xiu Niang is busy with."

"That's true. Yesterday I sent fish and mushrooms to Aunt Six and her family. This child is kind-hearted and smart. She became anxious after Brother Ping left. I just feel sorry for this child. I have to think about the big guy in advance and retreat. , It is good not to eat alone, but why is it not a good life?"

Second Aunt Xu loved Brother Ping's nephew, but she didn't dare to mention it. Her husband couldn't sleep for several days, crying secretly behind his back, and his eyes were red.

My eldest brother and sister-in-law all had white hair on their temples overnight, and they didn’t even dare to mention it.

"Don't mention this. Don't be in a hurry about the tavern. Xiu Niang has an idea. You can't go wrong. Then you just have to make your daughter-in-law smooth. Don't be lazy and slippery when we work together."

"I know, if you want to make money and don't even think about doing anything, you dare to make mistakes and see how I deal with them."

Aunt Xu nodded immediately.

"There is no rush for the child's marriage. We can wait until the filial piety period is over. Then we can buy land and build a house after making money. I remember this. Dad said, you have to wait until the filial piety period is over for anything. Renxiu Niang has not wronged us, even opening a tavern. For our two families, the brocade weaving is enough to support our son, why don’t we do so much for our family? In the final analysis, I get the face and benefits this time, and we can’t feel guilty as a human being."

Uncle Li and his wife talked about each other carefully.

"Don't worry, I like Xiu Niang's child. She is honest and kind, and I won't do anything wrong to her. Besides, she has given birth to two outstanding boys for our old Li family. I will protect her no matter what. A single tree cannot make a forest." I know."

"Well, remember to hit the kids and don't be so blind."

"got it."

Early the next morning, as soon as the sky was clear, the smoke from the farmers' kitchens was rising. It was hot in summer, so they had to work in the fields early. The sun was baking the earth blazingly at noon, and the hot people were sweating profusely.

Xiuniang also got up, and Yingzi also came to learn the craftsmanship. She put down her things, rolled up her sleeves, and helped to light the fire.

"Qing'er, I brought some sugar cakes made by my mother for you to try. You must observe filial piety and not eat meat. I didn't bring anything else."

"Oh, there are sugar cakes to eat. Grandma, you can eat them. Brother Chun, come here and give you one to eat. Mother, you can eat one too."

"You go ahead and eat, then go to school immediately after eating."

"Yingzi takes a lot, and both of them can eat it."

Qing'er ate a candy cake and fed one to her brother.

I had steamed buns for breakfast and made dough before going to bed at night. My sister-in-law and Xiu Niang got up before dawn in the morning to steam steamed buns and flower rolls. The weather couldn't hold them back, so they made them the same day and ate them the same day, but they went rancid overnight.

I steamed some salted duck eggs along the way, dipped the vegetables in the field into the sauce, and had some pickled cabbage, all homemade.

Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law are top-notch cooks, and Xiu Niang has seen the world and had banquets in her previous life, which is not much worse than that, and is enough to open a restaurant.

The sauce at home is made by grandma and mother-in-law, and the sauerkraut is fermented with rice soup, which is delicious.

There are also salted duck eggs eaten with multigrain porridge, which tastes very good.There are also the leftover pies from last night, plus the candy cakes that Yingzi brought, which Yingzi's mother made herself.

Sugar is quite expensive, and I only eat it every now and then. This is because Lijiacun is in a good condition and can afford it. Otherwise, ordinary people can't afford sugar all year round. Cooking requires almost no seasoning, just a little salt and a little bit of lard to add a bit of meat.

Yingzi finished eating, sat down and started splitting the thread. She wanted to learn how to make a purse.

She knew how to do it before, but Xiu Niang didn't like her skills and asked her to learn acupuncture again.

Today's duck egg porridge is really delicious.

"Grandma, let's make more salted duck eggs later."

"Yes. There are some eggs saved at home. We will pickle them in two days to prevent them from spoiling."

"it is good."

After dinner, the men had to go to work in the fields. It was getting light now. Xiu Niang made sour plum soup, found a jar and filled it with a jar. She used a basket to put the bowl and the rest of a few hard-boiled eggs. pancake.

Doing physical work makes you hungry quickly. If you are hungry, take a bite to eat.

"gone."

Grandpa led the men to work, and all the men from the Zhang family came. One man was left at home to work on the family land with the women, and all the remaining strong laborers came.

Brother-in-law Li Heng, and brother Rui and brother Qun took Qing'er and Yingzi to study in the family school. At noon, the family learned to take care of the meals. After dinner, they studied for an hour before leaving school. They all went to work in the fields. .

"Brother Chun, come over here to practice calligraphy and memorize."

"Oh."

Brother Chun has started to memorize the Thousand-Character Essay, and he can also write some words. He practices calligraphy on a sand table every day, learns a few new characters, memorizes an article and learns a poem, and then identifies medicinal materials with Xiu Niang, and writes whatever comes to mind. Taught in a smooth manner.

He practiced calligraphy and memorization on the sand table and studied poetry for three hours every day, in the morning and afternoon. The embroiderer gave him good reading habits to lay a solid foundation for his future studies.

Xiu Niang was busy with her brocade, and there was only a little left. It was almost finished, and you could already tell how it looked.

Seeing Brother Chun unable to sit still as if he was twisting bones in his chair, Xiu Niang waved to him.

"Come, mother will teach you nine chapters of arithmetic and tell you a story."

"it is good."

Xiuniang pulled Brother Chun to sit on the pony and told him a story. It was a short story from Sun Tzu's Art of War. It was both educational and entertaining.

Brother Chun listened with great interest. After listening to the story, he asked, how many people were mentioned just now, and how many soldiers and horses the enemy had?
Brother Chun has a good brain, he answers correctly every time, and his reactions are very fast. He can learn simple arithmetic very quickly, and he will not forget it after learning it. He can understand it.

This surprised Xiu Niang. She is such a good youngster. Brother Qun doesn't have to worry about studying. According to his second uncle, he is even smarter and more perceptive than Brother Ping back then.

Now Brother Chun is also a smart child, and he can't make mistakes if he is taught well. Such a good young man must not be taught wrong.

"My son is smart and studies well. Mom is so happy."

Xiuniang picked up Brother Chun and kissed her fat son with a smile on her face.

"Hee hee hee!"

Brother Chun chuckled happily.

"It's almost time, let the kids play for a while."

Grandma saw how hard her little grandson was being restrained, and she didn't dare to plead for mercy until she was about to eat.

"Okay, it's almost time. You can go play with grandma. You are not allowed to eat cakes. You will accumulate food after a while. Mom will cook for you."

Xiu Niang patted her clothes and went to the kitchen to get busy.

(End of this chapter)