A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 26
Wang Dou stood up and said, "Xiu Niang, why are you here?"

Xie Xiuniang saw that people around her were looking at her and smiling, she was a little shy and uneasy, she looked at her shoe and said in a low voice, "Brother, you haven't returned to the village for many days, mother is concerned, so she asked Xiuniang to come and visit."

Wang Dou said with a smile: "So that's how it is. The affairs of the Tunbao are indeed a bit busy these days. Even if I haven't gone back for a while, my mother and the elderly are worried about it."

He said gently: "You haven't eaten yet, come over and have some together."

Xie Xiuniang responded meekly, and then moved over, and everyone around Wang Dou stepped aside to make way for Xie Xiuniang.Holding the bowl, Han Zhong called out, "Sister-in-law, I haven't seen you for a while."

Qi Tianliang also said aside: "Yes, yes, I haven't gone to the village with Wang Tou for some time, is the old lady okay?"

Xie Xiuniang responded softly, seeing so many people looking at her, she dared not speak much.

Zhong Rong also inquired about Wang Dou in private, and heard that he had an unmarried child bride, who seemed to be the little girl in front of him, so he hurriedly stood up and bowed to Xie Xiuniang, smiling: "So this is the little lady." , student Zhong Rong is being polite here."

Xie Xiuniang saw that the man in front of her looked like a scholar, she didn't dare to be negligent, remembering the etiquette her mother had taught her before, she bowed back and said softly: "Mr. is too polite, Xiuniang dare not be."

Yang Tong next to him had heard of a daughter-in-law in Wang Dou's family, but he had never seen it. Although he wondered how such a burly man Wang Tou could have such a thin daughter-in-law, he certainly didn't dare to neglect her on the face. With a smile on his face, he shouted happily: "So this is the little lady, the little Yang Tong. I heard that Wang Tou mentioned you a long time ago. I am so lucky to see you today."

He said repeatedly: "Hurry up, little lady, please sit down, it's such a cold day, you have to drink some hot soup to warm yourself up."

He yelled, asking his mother-in-law Liu to bring over a pair of bowls and chopsticks quickly.

Mrs. Liu trotted over with a soup bucket in her hand. She poured a bowl of hot soup and said to Xie Xiuniang with a smile: "It's freezing cold, my lady, please drink some hot soup to warm yourself."

Xie Xiuniang saw so many people flattering her, knowing that it was all because of Wang Dou, she was proud and nervous at the same time, and even more afraid that she would behave inappropriately and let others gossip behind her back. She took the soup bowl and thanked her softly. With a cry, he drank in small sips.

Wang Dou ate with big mouthfuls, and advised Xie Xiuniang to eat more, Xie Xiuniang just kept nodding while eating.

After everyone had eaten, Wang Dou continued to lead the people to work, Xie Xiuniang whispered to Wang Dou that she wanted to help too.

Wang Dou thought about it for a while and gave her a hoe to let her follow behind him and make her pay attention not to be too tired, Xie Xiuniang happily agreed.

When work was over in the evening, Xie Xiuniang and Wang Dou went back together. Wang Dou asked about the affairs in the village. Xie Xiuniang said that the village was peaceful and she wanted to stay in Jingbian Castle to see if she could do something for Wang Dou. She also said that her mother was also like this statement.

Wang Dou smiled, and let Xie Xiuniang stay, and let her live in Jingbiandun's original room.

……

The next day, Xie Xiuniang also went to work with Wang Dou. The surrounding military households have already spread the relationship between Wang Dou and Xie Xiuniang. This is the mistress of Jingbian Fort in the future. , Xie Xiuniang returned the gifts one by one.

Afterwards, Xie Xiuniang lived in the fort for a few more days, going out early and returning late every day with Wang Dou to work together. Her behavior and behavior won the hearts of the military households in the fort.But after working for a few days, Wang Dou noticed that Xie Xiuniang was turning pale again, so he told her to pay attention to rest.

In fact, since Wang Dou was captured by the Jin Army, and after taking back the money and returning home, he also asked the doctor to check Xie Xiuniang's health. The doctor said that Xie Xiuniang was weak since she was a child. is the best.

But after all, Xie Xiuniang still goes to work with Wang Dou every day, and said that she has been working since she was a child, so that Wang Dou does not have to worry.

For the first time, Wang Dou discovered that the little girl was quite temperamental.

The time soon came to the middle of October in the seventh year of Chongzhen, and the Gregorian calendar of later generations was already the beginning of December, and it was almost the season of heavy snow. It was really cold in the north of Ming Dynasty.Wang Dou planned to work for a while longer, and when the ground was frozen, all the military households could only rest.

Fortunately, the reclamation of wasteland and the construction of canals have come to an end, and they can be cultivated in the spring of next year.

It seems to be very cold today, and there are still some snowflakes falling. When the north wind blows past, the remaining snow that fell on the ground immediately freezes into solid ice.All the military households working outside were wrapped like zongzi, but they still felt shy, and they exhaled thick white air.

Wang Dou also wrapped the fur coat tightly around his body, put the fur cap on his head tighter, and cursed a few times, he accidentally glanced at Xie Xiuniang next to him, and couldn't help being taken aback, only seeing Xie Xiuniang's side Ji Shi's face was pale, his lips were blue and purple, and he seemed to be trembling constantly.

Wang Dou went over and grabbed her hand, seeing that her little hand was covered with frostbite, Wang Dou said loudly: "Xiu Niang, I told you not to come out, but you want to come out anyway, look at your hands, it's so cold God, what nonsense."

Xie Xiuniang looked at Wang Dou blankly with a pale face, she was silent for a while, and after a long time, she said softly: "Brother, do you despise the slave family as useless?"

Wang Dou was stunned for a moment, then slowed down and said, "Xiu Niang, why do you think so?"

Xie Xiuniang stared at Wang Dou with sparkling eyes, and finally she slowly withdrew her hand, turned her back, and said quietly: "I also know that I am useless, but I just want to share my brother's worries."

She walked away slowly, her voice lingering and turning, and finally became inaudible.

Watching her small figure disappear, Wang Dou stayed for a long time, and finally called Tao Shi to come over and let her take care of Xie Xiuniang.

Tao Shi said: "Don't worry, Wang Tou, I will definitely take care of the little lady."

Wang Dou sighed for a long time, maybe his attitude was too blunt just now, this little girl just wanted to do something for herself.

……

The next day, Xie Xiuniang went back to Xinzhuang, and Wang Dou asked Tao to accompany her back.

At the beginning of November, the land reclamation and canal repair work of Jingbianbao military households was completely completed. According to Zhong Rong's statistical documents, a total of 160 three acres of land had been reclaimed, more than three miles of canals were dredged, and five irrigation wells were dug. The results are considered very good among the many villages in Shunxiangbao.

Afterwards, after Wang Dou's Jingbian Fort farm hectares document was handed in for filing, not to mention Zhang Gui was surprised, even Du Zhen, who was involved in the farming affairs of the Shun Township Fort Management Office, was also very surprised, and the defense officer Xu Zhongjun was also very surprised when he learned about it. Huanxi, it seems that it was a good choice for me to let Wang Dou go to farm the field that day.

Wang Dou is also proud in his heart, he can be said to have overcome all kinds of difficulties for this fortress, and he has achieved his current achievements, so he should be proud.At this time, Han Chao and others also came back from Shunxiang Fort. After many days of hard work, they finally collected enough stone materials for the buildings in the castle. As for the stone materials for the foundation of the outer city wall, they will have to wait until next year to continue their efforts. .

However, under this kind of weather, Wang Dou can't let Han Chao and the others continue to work. Looking at Han Chao, everyone has lost a lot of weight. Wang Dou told Han Chao and others to take a good rest.

Xu Zhongjun was thinking about when he would go to Jingbian Fort to inspect and reiterate his support for Wang Dou.As for Wang Dou, he was already busy with another matter.

……

"Brother, you have done a good job in Tunbao, it's really impressive."

Inside Dongjiazhuang, Zhang Gui sighed, and then said: "Tell me, what is your brother looking for me, brother knows that you have always been in the Three Treasures Hall for nothing."

"I'm asking for something."

Wang Dou smiled slightly, clasped his fists together and said, "The little brother came today to ask my elder brother to support some swords and equipment. You also know that my fortress was first established, and I don't have any equipment for self-defense."

Zhang Gui caressed the short beard on his lips, pondered for a while, and said, "Forget it, I still have some long guns and firecrackers in my storeroom, so I can give them to you at a cheaper price."

Wang Dou said: "Thank you, brother."

Wang Dou followed Hong Qiu to the warehouse, where there were some weapons, mostly knives, guns and three-eyed blunderbusses, Wang Dou asked, "Are there no blunderbusses, bows and arrows?"

Hong Qiu shook his head like a rattle.

Wang Dou thought for a while, archers are difficult to train, and the quality of the Daming bird gun is also worrying. It is not bad to have a knife, gun and three-eyed gun for the time being.

He picked up a long gun and looked at it. The length of the gun was about ten feet. The head of the gun was made of iron and shaped like a duckbill. It was a typical Ming-style long gun. Unfortunately, the preservation of these long guns was not very good. The heads of the guns were all rusted. There are also those three-eyed guns, which are also full of rust.

Wang Dou sighed, the quality of this kind of weapon is really not good. In the end, he chose thirty long spears and ten three-eyed guns. He gave up the price of the waist knife because of its high price. Fortunately, there are still a batch of seized in his fort. After the golden waist knife can be used.

In addition to these weapons, Wang Dou also bought more than 40 catties of pig iron for 300 taels of silver.

(End of this chapter)