pastoral fragrance

Chapter 122 The Gathering of Hundred Snakes
Xia Yan straightened his thoughts, and his voice was like a flood, "I remember that in a spring more than a year ago, I went up the mountain alone to collect herbs. When I came to a valley, there was a gurgling stream in the middle of the valley. There are new grasses growing on the sides. I went all the way, but only heard a "hissing" sound, and suddenly felt that something was wrong. When I took a closer look, I saw hundreds of snakes gathered together by the side of the stream They are of different lengths and thicknesses, but without exception, they raised their necks high, raised their heads, and revealed the snake letter. I was only ten years old at the time, and I was terrified when I saw this scene."

Hearing this, Qiu He shuddered all over, and suddenly felt shuddering. "It's scary, how come there are so many snakes?"

"There is a folk saying called the snake gathering. It is said that every year on the third day of March, a group of snakes will gather together. This is probably what Dr. Xia saw. Although the snake gathering has a long history, very few people I've seen it before. Doctor Xia has had an adventure." Xu Nanshan couldn't help but sigh when recalling the old words.

Qiuyue laughed and said, "Dr. Xia had such an adventure at such a young age, it's really amazing!"

While everyone was talking and laughing, Qiu He hugged his arms tightly, trembling all over, and said tremblingly: "It's better not to encounter such a terrible adventure." Think about the hundreds of snakes gathered in the same place , Isn't the grass densely packed with snakes?Just thinking about it, Qiuhe's head sank, let alone seeing such a situation with his own eyes, wouldn't he scare himself out of his wits?
Xia Yan saw that the little ghost head Qiu He was frightened like this, and he comforted him: "It was a bit scary to be there at the beginning. Afterwards, I read an ancient book, and there was also a record of this snake gathering. Actually, it's not scary. It's just a natural phenomenon. As long as you don't intentionally hurt them, those snakes will not hurt you. On the third day of March, they just wake up from hibernation, and they gather together to stretch their bodies. At this time, the snakes are After staying in the cave for several months, my body is not as flexible as before, so getting together is also a way for everyone to take care of them and restore their vitality."

After listening to Xia Yan's explanation, everyone finally understood.It turned out that this is what happened to the snake party.

"So, brother Qiuhe, you don't have to be afraid even if you encounter such a situation in the future. As long as you don't disturb them or hurt them, they won't catch up. Snakes don't eat when they hibernate, so Their bones are very weak. How can they have the strength to talk to you at this time!" Even if the scene is scary, there is no need to be afraid.

After hearing this, Qiuhe nodded with lingering fear.Having said that, he still felt that the gathering of snakes was a terrifying scene, and he hoped that he would not be as lucky as brother Xia Yan to encounter such a frightening adventure.

That night, everyone listened to Xia Yan's anecdotes until late at night. In the middle of the night, everyone felt sleepy, and sat in place to take a nap. Finally, until the dawn of the sky, everyone felt I couldn't hold it any longer, so I covered the fire with ashes from the stove hole, yawned and went back to sleep.

Xu Nanshan, Qiu Song and Xia Yan went to sleep in the east room together, and the rest slept in the west room.Qiu Lin has not woken up since going to bed last night, and now she is lying on the bed and sleeping soundly.

When it was dawn, Han Shi and Qiuyue got up again to prepare breakfast.Because they didn't sleep well, both of them yawned long and short, and tears kept streaming out.

On the first day of the new year, every household will make glutinous rice balls.Mrs. Han had already made the dough yesterday, now she washed her hands and kneaded the dough back and forth.Knead until the dough is scattered and kneaded into a ball.The core of the glutinous rice balls was also prepared last night. There were mashed potatoes and minced meat, cabbage minced meat, and sesame and white sugar. Three bowls were prepared for each.

Han's and Qiuyue made glutinous rice balls very quickly, and they finished a glutinous rice ball with three or two strokes.Put the rubbed glutinous rice balls into the Shau Kei, and wait for the water in the pot to boil, then you can put it into the pot.

"Mother, the water is boiling!" Qiuyue lifted the lid of the pot and saw a gust of hot white air coming towards her.Through the milky white mist, I can see the water in the pot is boiling happily.Qiuyue became happy, and quickly put the glutinous rice balls in Shau Kei into the pot one by one.

This time, the glutinous rice balls are also very particular. You can’t pour all the glutinous rice balls in the Shau Kei into the pot with a grunt.In this way, the glutinous rice balls are easy to deform, the core inside is easy to come out, and the boiling water in the pot will be splashed everywhere, which is not good for scalding people.

After the mother and daughter were throwing glutinous rice balls, Qiulin yawned and went to the stove. "Mother, big sister, you guys got up really early." Qiu Lin fell asleep in a daze last night, and fell asleep until dawn.Come to the stove house to see, my mother and eldest sister have woken up early, and they are busy making breakfast now!

Qiuyue turned her head and glanced at Qiulin, "You slept soundly. If Mother hadn't told you not to wake you up, she would have picked you up already. What are you doing standing there by the door frame? Come here and help light the fire!"

Compared to the elder sister's fierceness, Han's voice was much softer, "Sier, did you sleep well?"

Qiulin felt a little embarrassed looking at the busy figures of Mrs. Han and Qiuyue. She fell asleep out of nowhere yesterday, and slept until dawn.Mother and eldest sister stayed vigil last night, and came to make breakfast early this morning, she really felt a little sorry.So at this moment, she hurriedly ran to the stove, sat down on the small stool, and quickly added firewood to the stove.

Wait for the white glutinous rice balls in the pot to float out of the pot one by one, add more fire, and the glutinous rice balls will be cooked.The heads of those white and fat glutinous rice balls are next to each other, and the white skin is glowing with light water, which makes people salivate just looking at it.

Han came over with a washbasin and poured out the hot water in the top tank.Just as he was about to leave the stove house to shout, he saw his youngest son coming out of the east room with Xia Yan.Han's face was full of smiles, and she said kindly: "San'er, Doctor Xia, you are all up, Doctor Xia, hurry up and wash your face, the glutinous rice balls in the pot are already cooked, you can eat after Doctor Xia washes up."

Xia Yan hurriedly said: "Auntie, you don't need to entertain me specially, I'm already very sorry for the New Year's visit to bother me."

"I'm sorry, you're just being polite! Stop talking, wash your face, you've been tossing all night, you must be hungry." Han Shi wrung out the veil while talking, and handed it to Xia Yan. past.This Xia Yan's gestures and gestures reveal the spirit of everyone. From this, it can be seen that his background is definitely not like that of rural women like them.It was because they were embarrassed that they were able to stay at her house last night!

After Xia Yan finished washing, a bowl of hot glutinous rice balls was served.The rough porcelain bowl was still a little hot in his hand, Xia Yan opened his mouth and blew into the bowl, the glutinous aroma of glutinous rice balls mixed with the aroma of potatoes, meat, and sesame came out, it was really attractive.Xia Yan suddenly felt a little parched, and couldn't help but want to taste it.

The taste of the glutinous rice balls is still so familiar, everything seems to be back in the past, when he was Ah Huang.Seeing Qiulin and the others eating the glutinous rice balls in the bowl with great interest, Xia Yan's heart warmed, allowing him to return to this place, and be able to have a peaceful and beautiful New Year's Day with Qiulin's family. Eating this delicious bowl of glutinous rice balls in the morning is indeed a blessing from heaven.

"Brother Xia Yan, what are you thinking, hurry up and eat glutinous rice balls." Seeing that Xia Yan, who was holding a thick porcelain bowl, fell into silence, Qiu Lin walked over and gently pushed Xia Yan's elbow, reminding him not to Thinking about things delayed this delicacy. "The glutinous rice balls are delicious. There are three kinds of fillings. You can eat them!"

When Xia Yan was hit by Qiu Lin like this, the crisp voice seemed to blow into Xia Yan's heart like a ray of spring breeze. His heart moved, and his eyes followed the source of the silver bell-like sound, and his eyes were full of innocent girls. For a moment, Xia Yan stared blankly.

At the beginning of the new year, everyone eats glutinous rice balls happily.

After eating the glutinous rice balls, Xia Yan got up to leave.He knew that according to the usual practice, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Han family would take a few children back to their natal family, and it would be a bit unreasonable for him to stay in the Xu family.

"Uncle Xu, Aunt Han, thank you for your warm hospitality. I was bothering you last night, and I should leave today if I have enough food and drink. Take care everyone, and happy new year." Xia Yan walked to the door of the main room and greeted everyone.

Mrs. Han hurriedly helped Xia Yan up, and kept saying, "We are embarrassed by Doctor Xia's words. Our family will never forget Doctor Xia's kindness. What is a mere breakfast? Xia Yan Doctor, stop talking like this. The first day of the new year should be a day for family reunion. Even if I, as an aunt, want to keep you for a few more nights, I won’t be able to. My aunt won’t keep you anymore. I hope Doctor Xia will come back soon Home, reunite with family."

"That's right, Doctor Xia, don't you just say that you're seeing outsiders? Our family is in Luoshui Village. If you're free, come and visit us." Qiuyue agreed with a smile.She felt that Xia Yan and her family hit it off very well, and seeing that he was polite, she couldn't help but put away her temper and become more polite.

When everyone said that, Xia Yan didn't say anything else, but said with embarrassment: "Sister Cheng Qiuyue said something, since Uncle Xu regards me as his own family, it's better to save the word doctor, just call me by my name." It's gone." He always felt that the word "doctor" was extremely awkward, as if the "doctor" hat was taken off, and he was called old.

"It's easy to talk about, we'll call you Ah Yan from now on." Xu Nanshan nodded at Xia Yan, this young man is not bad, he has excellent medical skills but is not arrogant and complacent, which is really rare!So at this moment, I didn't want to be polite to him, and directly called him by his nickname, which seemed much more intimate.

"Okay!" Xia Yan was extremely satisfied with Xu Nanshan's way of calling him by his nickname directly. Wouldn't this increase the distance between him and Qiulin's family?Naturally, he fully agrees!

(End of this chapter)