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

Chapter 654 Hope

"Those with red stripes on their hands, all go this way, take a bath, change clothes, male left and female right... Each enters their own bathhouse..."

Zheng Xingxiang's family, young and old, happily entered Area B. In front of them was another large flat field. On the right near the river, there were several steaming large houses, which seemed to be large bathhouses.

Under the guidance of the servants, these people with special passes entered one of the places, and inside the fence, there were dark crowds, most of them looked relatively honest, and the whole family gathered together.

And here, some doctors and doctors who covered their faces with a white cotton cloth and hung their heads with two thin ropes watched them carefully.

Some helpers, whose faces were also covered with white brocade cloth, were checking their clothes and bedding. There was a desk next to them, and a warehouse-like warehouse behind them was full of men’s and women’s clothes of different sizes, as well as blankets. Different men and women are in charge of distribution.

"It's so soft that you can put it away by yourself. You can put it in a small escape bag. The rest are clothes and bedding. Check!"

Before inspecting the clothes and bedding, Zheng Xingxiang and other heads of the household were given a small bag, which was lined with oilcloth and could also be covered. Inside, there were water bottles, soap horns, face towels, toothbrushes, flints, small packets of salt, etc., wrapped with a belt , can be carried on the body, and can also be stretched and shortened. It is somewhat different from ordinary packages, but like a sergeant's gunpowder bag.

It's a good backpack, but why is it called an escape bag?

Zheng Xingxiang also saw that not far ahead, there was a hut with curtains. Many people entered with large and small bags, and then came out with small bags on their backs.

In the family, Yaya's father, the second son Zheng Tianmin, was more careful and prudent, and he had also practiced boxing and kicking for a while. He took care of all the household items, so he hurriedly told him to bring a small escape bag and a soft bag to the house. Go, put some scraps of silver and copper coins, as well as jewelry, which have been hard-earned at home, into the bag.

"I don't want these anymore, I don't want these anymore."

After all the refugees packed them carefully, the parcels and beddings were opened one by one, and the piles of clothes and beddings were checked. After a little inspection, except for a few clean clothes, there were also a set of clothes on the body, most of the clothes and beddings of the refugees, They were all like rubbish, taken away by those helpers who covered their faces with white brocade cloth.

Put them into the trolley in piles and push them across the bridge. Everyone saw black smoke billowing from there, as if they were burning the clothes and bedding.

Many people looked at it distressedly, but the clothes of most of them were really tattered and dirty, and the clothes worn by many people were patched and tattered like patchwork clothes, dark and unable to see the original color.

Although their quilts were full of holes, they were so dirty that the cotton wool could not even fly out. The quilts were probably full of fleas, so they had to be taken away and burned.

"If the old ones don't go, the new ones won't come."

Zheng Xingxiang also comforted himself in this way, and at the same time felt extremely distressed. A piece of clothing inside had been passed down for several generations.

Fortunately, next, they issued new clothes.

"Come here to get your clothes, one set for adults, two sets for children, and one blanket. Tomorrow, you will go to Zhangjiakou and set up a new Tunbao and Tuntian in Xinghe and Shacheng (later Zhangbei County). Send out winter clothes, winter quilts, and some daily necessities."

Zheng Xingxiang's old wife died early and had two sons. The eldest son Zheng Tianliang and his wife Tian Shi gave birth to a son and a daughter. The second son Zheng Tianmin and his wife Qian Shi gave birth to a daughter Yaya. They were divided into men and women and received at two tables. clothing.

At two tables not far away, there were two stewards, a man and a woman, looking at them, the steward shouted, "Four sets of large men's clothes and underwear are complete."

The stewardess shouted: "Three sets of large women's clothes, two sets of small ones, and inner clothes are all available."

A set of cotton and linen clothes, blue for men and red for women, are handed to them. The white underwear and underwear are complete, and the same is true for women. They look a little ashamed. Tian Shi, Qian Shi, etc., hurriedly embraced Zheng Tianliang's youngest daughter, Zheng Tianliang. Jiao Niang, who is almost eighteen, is also quite shy, but her face is covered with mud, but she can't see the expression.

Only Yaya held the clothes excitedly, looked left and right, such beautiful bright red clothes, in the past only new clothes were worn during the Chinese New Year, now there are two sets, so happy.

There is also a blanket, which is packed into a great escape bag and carried by the head of the household.

"Hurry up, let's all go to take a bath and change clothes, men left and women right, go into their respective bathhouses, take away all the changed clothes and burn them..."

In the huge bathhouse, there are separate halls for men and women, all stripped naked, and take a bath in the pool. The pool is made of bluestone, and the water can enter from one side and the water can exit from the other, as long as the plug is pulled out.

The pool was full of water and it was scalding hot. When everyone entered, they all grinned, but they were extremely happy.

"Yeah, yah, yah."

Yaya splashed the water excitedly, her mother, behind her, with a smile on her face, scrubbed her vigorously with saponins, and slowly, Yaya's delicate little face was revealed, and Zheng Jiaoniang next to her was also It was comfortable to wash, and after washing, she also looked quite pretty.

In the end, the male and female refugees who had bathed and changed into new clothes came out, and another family gathered together. They carried escape bags, big and small, clean, and went forward again under the guidance of the helpers.

There is another flat field in front, with long benches. Next to it, some barbers are busy. As early as the Han Dynasty, there were barbers, and it was more common in the Ming Dynasty, cutting hair and beards, etc. I can’t imagine this place where refugees are sheltered. , There are also haircuts specially for refugees.

At this time, there were many people sitting on the stool, chatting from time to time, they were basking in the sun, there was a big bucket of hot water beside them, they could drink water and wait, waiting for their own haircut and shaving, and there was also a female craftsman, who helped the girls Combing hair etc.

The barbers were busy. The men shaved their hair, trimmed their beards, and tied their hair in a bun. The women also wore their hair in a bun and combed their hair. Both men and women looked radiant.

……

"Huh, comfortable."

Han's father, Han Xianwei, was soaked in a wooden barrel, and the scalding water made him take a deep breath.

He took a bath happily, and his body was sour and smelly all the way here, not much better than a beggar.

Of course, these people like to be clean. Except for the clothes on their bodies, there are very few clothes and beddings in the package that are taken away and burned. Naturally, new clothes like Zheng Xingxiang's family will not be given to them, but they will also be divided. into a small escape bag.

After their family entered Area B, they were led to a place similar to an inn, and there were also doctors to observe them. Of course, their environment was much better. They could live and rest in several rooms as a family. live, are very good.

The guide who led the way said that it would cost money to live in this place, but Han Xiaowei had already paid for it, and Han Yuanwai's family, just feel at ease.

"This kid is much more careful."

Thinking of his son, Father Han's eyes became moist, yes, he spoiled his son too much in the past, and loved him too much, it's time to let him make his own way.

Thinking of his son, since he was a child, he held it in his hands for fear of falling, and held it in his mouth for fear of melting. The names of the three daughters, Han Pannan, Han Wangnan, and Han Ruonan, can tell the Han family's love for their son Han Kaihui. Expectation and nervousness, so since I was a child, I have watched it very hard.

It's just that my son was a little rebellious, always wanted to start a career on his own, and didn't follow the family's arrangement. In the end, he ran away from home by himself.

At that time, he and his mother were so worried. When the special news came that his son might encounter Tartars, his mother shed tears day and night.

After worrying like this for a few years, a letter came suddenly saying that his son joined the army on the East Road and went to Liaodong. Under the persuasion of the son, the whole family went to the East Road, alas, think about it, it's like in a dream.

"Ah, there is a well here, hurry up, Pan Nan, Wang Nan, Ruonan, come out quickly, while there is water, wash all the changed clothes... and the clothes and quilts in the package, and return them to the water. If there is such a horse, hurry up and bring it to brush..."

When the Han family set off, there were originally three carriages, but the horses ate too much during the journey. In order to save food, two carriages and horses were sold, and they only carried women and children. Even Father Han walked all the way. .Day on the road, already dirty and thin.

At this time, Father Han was thinking, when he passed by the water room, the water seemed to be boiled with briquettes, and there were holes in it. For some reason, he heard his wife yelling, and couldn't help shaking his head: "This woman, ever since she married me, has always been careless and greedy for cheap things. After decades, she still hasn't changed at all..."

"Sir, there is a well there."

Mr. Li and Li Xiangqing's family were allotted a small escape bag.

A quilt and a few clothes in his house were taken away and burned, and the rest were kept. The family divided men and women, took a bath in a big bathhouse, changed into the clean clothes they wrapped themselves, and some people got their hair trimmed and shaved for free. Comb your face and feel refreshed.

Under the guidance of the servants, the family was assigned to their own room, a Datong shop in a row of houses, many families crowded together, but they were already satisfied.

Not far behind this row of rooms, there is a huge hut, which is divided into men and women. The helpers distributed a few stacks of paper to each family, saying that it was for wiping their buttocks. How can such good paper be used to wipe their butts? butt?Many people went into hiding again.

After resettlement, everyone waits for the blueprint and the observation results of the shelter. If there is nothing wrong, they can leave the shelter tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

It was still early at this time, Li Xiangqing's wife, Yang Shi, found a well not far to the right, and rows of laundry tables, etc. Not far away, the Juma River water could also be used for laundry.

So, she hurriedly took the changed clothes to wash, and spread out the bedding in the package to dry, just like her, everyone in the shelter room did the same.

There was nothing to do that day, but at night, everyone still drank porridge, but they were in the restaurant in District B. At night, everyone slept very soundly. It felt like this was the most peaceful day when they fled so many times.

(End of this chapter)