The Little Widower (farming)

35

Today is the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year.

When Chen Qing got up in the morning, he stood at the door as usual and glanced at Zhou Yuan's house in the distance, but it was foggy today and he couldn't see anything. He sighed.

Next, I went to the back to feed the chickens, ducks and geese, and made soybean meal for the cattle alone. After doing this, a little orange light appeared in the sky, but the sun's light was weak and could not dispel the thick fog.

After the onset of winter, Luohe Village is like this almost every day. It is foggy in the morning and the fog will not dissipate until almost noon.

Li Xin has not come to visit these days. After all, she is getting married on the 26th, and it is not appropriate to go out again. He is no longer here, and Chen Qing is free. He no longer has to guard the house these days. He didn't know what to do with the bacon rack.

My mother is familiar with some aunts in the village, and there is not much work to do in the winter, so the aunts gather together to play leaf cards, which can be considered a pastime.

She had taken Chen Qing there before, not wanting him to be bored at home, but Chen Qing still felt uncomfortable after going there twice, and then Aunt Sun stopped taking him.

Chen Qing can also find some fun at home. Embroidering, feeding chickens and ducks, cleaning the house, and staring at the sky are all his pastimes.

Today is a little different. After all, it is the New Year, so we should pay attention to it. Aunt Sun started preparing early in the morning. They will kill a chicken today, eat half of it today, and eat half of it during the Chinese New Year.

Aunt Sun went to the back to catch chickens, and Chen Qing started to boil hot water. Calculating carefully, he had killed chickens twice this year.

The water by the river was too cold for hands. Chen Qing was not used to the winter climate here when he first came here. He suffered from chilblains in the first year, and then every winter he would suffer from chilblains.

This time, the chicken feathers from the chicken killing were not retained. Chen Qing was carrying a bucket of hot water to pour it outside. At this time, the fog had not dispersed, and it was completely white.

Chen Qing wanted to carry the bucket to the river to empty it. He didn't meet anyone along the way. Although the river water was not freezing, it was still bitingly cool. Nowadays, people in the village always boil some hot water to wash clothes. The coats will wait for the weather. Wash again when warm.

Chen Qing was carrying a bucket and walking in the thick fog.

Suddenly a black shadow appeared in front of him. Chen Qing's heart trembled. He almost lost his grip on the bucket. When he was about to fall, he was caught by the black shadow.

Only then did Chen Qing see Zhou Yuan's face clearly in the mist. He had not seen him for two months, and it was as if he didn't recognize him anymore. Chen Qing froze on the spot, not knowing what to say.

Zhou Yuan put down the bucket in his hand, and without restraint, reached out and took Chen Qing into his arms.

Chen Qing was too small and was really suitable for being picked up. Zhou Yuan directly picked him up like a child. Chen Qing's exclamations were suppressed in his throat. He held him in Zhou Yuan's arms. After getting up, I was finally able to look directly into his eyes.

"I'm back."

Chen Qing's lips moved. He felt that he had a lot to say, but he seemed to be unable to say anything at the moment. Originally, his hand was holding Zhou Yuan's arm, but now he raised his hand He raised his hands and wrapped them around Zhou Yuan's neck.

Afterwards, the two of them said nothing, enjoying this moment of tenderness and tranquility.

It wasn't until Mrs. Sun called him loudly not far away that Chen Qing jumped off Zhou Yuan's body and his face turned red again: "You, have you eaten?"

Zhou Yuan helped him lift the bucket and followed him to the door of the house. Zhou Yuan said: " I haven't eaten yet. I just arrived."

Chen Qing thought for a while and pulled him into the yard. It was foggy and no one could see him. "I'll make you something to eat."

Zhou Yuan followed him in. At the door of the house, Aunt Sun was startled when she saw him: "Zhou Yuan is back!"

Zhou Yuan nodded: "Auntie, I'm back."

"Oh, it must have been a hard journey. She looks like she has lost a lot of weight." Aunt Sun patted him on the shoulder, "Have you just arrived?"

Zhou Yuan just smiled: "Yes, I just got home, come and have a look."

Aunt Sun naturally knew that Zhou Yuan was not here to see her: "You guys talk for a while, I'll make you something to eat. You must not have eaten yet."

"Thank you, Auntie. I'll take him to pack his things and come back later."

Aunt Sun said hello in the kitchen, and Zhou Yuan took Chen Qing with him. She took him back to her home with her hand. The road was very small, and the two of them walked one behind the other, but they still held each other's hands.

Zhou Yuan's luggage was still in the yard. He didn't even go into the house. He put down his things and went to look for people. However, even with a quick glance, he could see that the entire yard was clean and tidy. It can be seen that Chen Qing usually Everyone is here to clean up.

Chen Qing was a little embarrassed: "I came here to sweep with Li Xin, so no one will know."

Zhou Yuan carried his luggage: "I'm also afraid that others don't know, so I'll marry you early if someone sees me. " Enter the house."

Chen Qing blushed again, and the blush on his cheeks seemed to have not disappeared since he came back from Zhou Yuan. He looked at Zhou Yuan's luggage. It was just a baggage when he left, but it had a lot more when he came back.

Just a touch of red stands out.

Zhou Yuan told him the origin of the red cloth: "It's really hard to disobey the general's wishes. Madam prepared these."

The general in the capital was far, far away from Chen Qing. The biggest he had ever seen The official was the county magistrate. Now he was looking at the piece of cloth that was said to be a reward from the general, even touching it with caution.

"Anyway, this is for you." Zhou Yuan stuffed the cloth into his arms. "Use this to make a wedding dress. If you want to embroider it, you can embroider it yourself. If not, I will find someone to do it."

Chen Qing quickly returned the cloth . Give it to him: "It's a pity to give such a good cloth to me." He was afraid that his rough hands would scratch the precious fabric.

During the handing and pushing, the soft satin that was not tied too tightly fell down and the red cloth scattered. Chen Qing hurried to pick it up, but a piece of paper fell down. Zhou Yuan saw it and picked it up and took a look.

They are two silver notes worth one hundred taels.

Chen Qing had never seen a silver note before. He had only seen fifty taels of silver ingots once or twice, let alone a silver note. He approached Zhou Yuan and asked, "What is this?"

"Silver Ticket."

Chen Qing was shocked: "Ah, I didn't break it, did I?"

Zhou Yuan smiled and shook his head, then put the banknote away and packed up the things he brought back with Chen Qing.

There were medicinal materials brought back for Zhang Yin, as well as many knick-knacks, some for Li Xin, some for Niu Niu, and anyone he knew well, he didn't leave behind.

Only then did Chen Qing remember what he wanted to say to him: "Zhou Yuan, Li Xin is getting married on the 26th."

Zhou Yuan was stunned: "He is getting married? To whom?"

"The scholar who lives in his house. "Chen Qing sat on a stool on the side. He was still embarrassed to sit on Zhou Yuan's bed, and told Zhou Yuan about the recent events in the village.

"My godmother is in poor health again?" Zhou Yuan looked at the large and small bags of medicinal materials he brought back, "I'll go take a look later."

Chen Qing nodded: "Okay."

Zhou Yuan didn't have anything to pack. Calling Chen Qing over just wanted to talk to him alone.

He touched another small baggage in the bag: "Everything in this is for you."

Chen Qing instinctively wanted to shake his head, but Zhou Yuan said: "It's not a valuable thing."

Then he opened it with him. : "This contains the seasonings we brought back from Xixin Mansion."

Chen Qing opened it and took a look. He didn't recognize anything inside: "What is this?"

Zhou Yuan then talked about what happened after returning from the capital, mainly talking about the Tianji they had eaten: "In winter, It's really satisfying to have a hot meal."

Chen Qing knew that Zhou Yuan was not a picky person, but he could talk about delicious food, and it was definitely not ordinary delicious.

"If there is a chance in the future, I will take you there too. They say these things are used to make delicious food. Just study it." Zhou Yuan showed him another one, "These are small gadgets, not expensive." , and novel. "

A goose-yellow hairband with two small bells, a five-color handkerchief, and some fresh-style handkerchiefs are not expensive, but they all need to be carefully selected. .

"Do you like it?" Zhou Yuan looked at his shining eyes and knew that he liked it.

"I bought too many." Chen Qing couldn't move his eyes away. Chen Qing had only received a limited number of gifts since he was a child. After his father passed away, he rarely saw such bright colors again.

"It's not expensive."

Chen Qing saw another small box inside. He picked it up, opened the lid, and smelled a very fragrant smell. Zhou Yuan also came over and said, "This is chilblain cream bought from the capital. Do you have frostbite?"

He took Chen Qing's hand and saw the frostbite on his hand: "It seems that I bought it just right."

Chen Qing smiled and held the small box in his hand.

After looking around, he stood up and said, "Let's go see Auntie."

Chen Qing then remembered that he hadn't even eaten in the morning, so he quickly got up and went back home together.

Aunt Sun at home had already kneaded the dough and prepared the chicken giblets that she had just killed and taken out. However, she did not move. She could not fry the chicken giblets well, so she waited for Chen Qing to come back.

Zhou Yuan and Aunt Sun were talking about Li Xin's marriage in the yard, while Chen Qing was cooking chicken offal.

Every family in Luohe Village has a kimchi jar, and unfinished vegetables can be put into the jar. After being soaked with salt water, the crispiness of the vegetables is retained, but there is also a different flavor.

The chicken oil melts, stir-fry the ginger in the kimchi jar until fragrant, and put the chicken giblets into the pot. The aroma is stimulated when stir-fried over high heat.

On the other side, under the boiling water, Chen Qing also placed two poached eggs. When the noodles were ready, he poured fried chicken with sauerkraut on top, and a bowl of chicken noodles was ready.

As usual, the big basin for Zhou Yuan was filled with soup and water.

Zhou Yuan almost finished the meal in one go. When he saw the poached eggs in the bowl, he blinked at Chen Qing, but Chen Qing didn't look at him.

Today is Xiaonian. Aunt Sun asked Zhou Yuan about her arrangements. Zhou Yuan took the last sip of soup and said, "I'm going to my adoptive father's house today to see if there is anything I need his help with. I'm also going to see my godmother. Bring the medicine you bought."

Aunt Sun nodded: "That's right. Although it's a marriage, we will still be a family in the future."

Li Xin's family is cleaning up the newly rented house in the past two days, so Zhou Yuan can go. Can help.

"I'll come over for dinner in the evening. Auntie won't leave food for me." Although he was talking to Aunt Sun, his eyes were always looking at Chen Qing.

Aunt Sun laughed: "It depends on whether A Qing has done enough."

"Mom..." Chen Qing sat aside, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Oh, Ah Qing is so shy." Aunt Sun laughed loudly, "It's better now. Some time ago, I didn't even want to say a word, but now my expression is really lively and colorful."

Chen Qing was said Sorry, I turned around and went into the kitchen.

Seeing his fleeing back, the two people in the yard laughed out loud.