Qian Song

Chapter 10 The Power of Example

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Zhao Han'er jumped down from the mule cart, and loaded three stones of grain and seven catties of beef out of the mule cart. After holding back for a while, he said to the driver, "Thank you Sixth Brother."

After finishing speaking, Zhao Han'er rubbed her hands awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

Ma Liu, who was driving the car, really couldn't figure it out, just such a person who couldn't get a fart with three sticks, turned out to be the person who received the fourth most rewards after Niu Meng, Zhang Shi, and Fang Wuji. Zhang Datie and other heroes who have been fighting in front have not received as many rewards as him.

What made Ma Liu even more puzzled was that the reason why Zhao Han'er received so many awards was not because of his outstanding contributions, but because he carried out Li Cun's orders without reservation. In Li Cun's words That is: "Zhao Han'er is the most obedient, and he should be rewarded."

In this way, Zhao Han'er was rewarded with two stones of grain, five catties of beef, and ten taels of silver, and Li Cun even asked Ma Liu to drive a mule cart to see Zhao Han'er off.

Ma Liu thought: "If I knew this earlier, when Li Cun ordered me to wait, my hands and feet would be quicker."

There is no regret in the world to take medicine, and Ma Liu worked overtime to send Zhao Han'er and others, and the working hours were also counted. According to the military salary calculation method announced by Fang Wuji, he could also get extra military salary.

This can also be talked about as consolation.

Ma Liu said with a smile: "You and I are close neighbors in the village, why are you being polite to me." Then he said: "I think the Lord values ​​you more than you. If you become prosperous in the future, don't forget Sixth Brother."

Zhao Han'er replied solemnly: "As long as I don't violate the Lord's order, I will help Sixth Brother as appropriate."

Ma Liu shook his head in his heart: "I don't know what to say in the scene, I really don't know what Li Cun likes about him?"

After Ma Liu left, Zhao Han'er moved the beef and grain into his yard.

The people in the room heard the sound and immediately opened the door to look.

Seeing that the person making the noise was Zhao Han'er, a lame woman immediately led the five boys out of the room to the courtyard.

The lame woman, that is, Zhao Han'er's wife Xie Shi, wanted to ask Zhao Han'er what happened to Fang Youchang's family today, and did Fang La really rebel?
But before Mrs. Xie could ask, seeing Zhao Han'er holding a large piece of beef in his hand, a half-sized man, that is, Zhao Han'er's eldest son Zhao Gan, asked with a look of surprise: "Father, what is in your hand?" What kind of meat did you take?"

Zhao Han'er smiled proudly, and replied loudly: "The best beef!"

Hearing this, Mrs. Xie asked worriedly, "Where did you get the so good beef?"

Zhao Han'er smiled innocently: "Not only beef, I also brought back three stones of grain and 12 taels of snowflake silver. My family will have no worries this year."

Xie stared at Zhao Han'er without saying a word - she was waiting for Zhao Han'er to answer her question.

Zhao Han'er, who was always fearful of internal affairs, saw this, and quickly replied truthfully: "This is my military salary. I participated in Fang Shisan's uprising, and now I am Li Xianggong's soldier."

Hearing what Zhao Han'er said, Xie's heart tightened!
But looking at the five sons around him who haven't had enough to eat for a long time, and thinking about the parents-in-law who are too hungry to walk in the house, Mrs. Xie also understands why Zhao Han'er took such a step.

Sighing in his heart, Mrs. Xie took the initiative to change the subject and said, "Can you get so many good things by participating in the rebel army?"

Zhao Han'er shook his head even more proudly: "I can't, but my lord praises me for being the most obedient and counts my great achievements, so he rewards me with five catties of good beef, two stones of grain and ten taels of snowflake silver."

While speaking, Zhao Han'er took out 12 taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to Mrs. Xie.

After receiving 12 taels of silver from Zhao Han'er's thick hand, Xie's hand couldn't help trembling a little!

Mrs. Xie used to be a maidservant of a wealthy family, and she accompanied her to study for several years. Later, her master’s house was ruined by flowers and stones. She broke her leg while fleeing, and crawled to the door of Zhao Han’er’s house, where she was arrested by Zhao Han’er. She was rescued, and later married Zhao Han'er, who gave birth to five sons for Zhao Han'er.

Therefore, unlike Zhao Han'er who is honest and honest, Mrs. Xie has seen silver, and has seen more silver than 12 taels.

But that was a long, long time ago.

Since leaving the original master's house, let alone silver, it is a series of copper coins, and Mrs. Xie has rarely seen it again.

Rubbing the full amount of money, while being excited, Xie Shi, who was sensible and reasonable, also understood that the reason why Li Cun rewarded her man so much was just to set her man as an example, not because of how good her man was.

But Mrs. Xie did not dispel Zhao Han'er's enthusiasm.

——It was the first time for her to see the strong sense of pride exuding from Zhao Han'er, who was numb under the pressure of the mountain of life, and she couldn't destroy Zhao Han'er's self-confidence.

"Take the meat to the kitchen, I'll cut it into two taels, and I'll cook it for you." Mrs. Xie said to her five sons.

"Ah~ Just two taels~" The five children wailed at the same time.

"Twenty-two is still less, a bunch of prodigal sons, such good beef, of course I want to dry it, and eat it slowly in the future." Xie scolded with a smile.

Who would have thought that Zhao Han'er, who seldom interrupted on such matters, shook his head this time and said, "No, I have to eat all of it."

"Why?" Xie was puzzled.

"My lord said that all the beef delivered today must be eaten, otherwise there will be no more meat." Zhao Han'er replied truthfully.

While talking, Zhao Han'er took out another packet of seasoning from his bosom: "This is the seasoning that my lord asked Uncle Jiu to distribute to us. He said yes, it is stewed with beef, it is very fragrant."

When Xie heard this, his expression changed.

Opening the seasoning packet and seeing spices such as star anise, cinnamon, and leaves inside, Xie became even more convinced of his guess.

"This Li Xianggong is probably not a mortal."

Mrs. Xie, who probably guessed Li Cun's thoughts, said grandly: "Okay, then I will move the pot to the courtyard and cook a good pot of beef for my mother."

When the children heard this, they cheered and went to move the pots and stoves.

Zhao Han'er's old parents also staggered out of the back room when they heard the voice, and followed to help.

As expected, Xie came from a rich family, the beef stewed by her was so fragrant that all the neighbors were attracted by the tempting aroma.

Seeing Zhao Han'er's family stewing a big pot of meat, all the neighbors drooled and wondered: "Where did Zhao Han'er's family get such a big pot of meat when they are so poor? Is the boy stewed?"

After the fence outside the courtyard was full of people, someone finally couldn't help asking: "Miss Zhao, where did your meat come from?"

Hearing this, Mrs. Xie swiftly fished out a large piece of beef and cut it into small pieces for Zhao Han'er's parents and five sons to share. He said loudly, "My family's officials have joined the rebel army. The seven catties The good beef, three stones of grain, and 12 taels of snowflake silver were all sent by Li Xianggong, the lord of my family's officials."

Without waiting for anyone to ask again, Mrs. Xie took the initiative to say: "Ms. Li said that my husband and the others are weak, and asked them to eat more meat to strengthen their bodies. He also ordered them to eat more than a dozen strong buffaloes and dozens of pigs within ten days. Sheep, and said that in the future, it will be... yes, it will be normalized, that is, it will eat meat all the time."

"Eating more than a dozen strong buffaloes and dozens of pigs and sheep within ten days? This is too extravagant, Fang Youchang's family dare not squander like that!" The neighbors all looked disbelieving and yearning!

Mrs. Xie also said: "Mr. Li also allowed my husband and others to take their family members to do work in the military camp. They will take care of their food and pay back their wages. Tomorrow, our family will go to the sun-drying farm to eat military food. We will never have to go through this kind of dunning again." It’s a hard day without enough food.”

"Can you still bring your family to have a full meal?" The neighbors were even more unbelievable and yearning!
Mrs. Xie went on to say: "I tell you that Li Xianggong, both civil and military, keeps his promises, and pays for rewards and punishments clearly. Wife Yinzi."

"Also, Li Xianggong is thirsty for talents. As the saying goes, only talents are used, and I will use them when I get them."

"Sister-in-law of the Sun family, didn't your Dalang work as a clerk in a grocery store in the county, and he will definitely be reused if he goes there."

"And Brother Li, you know how to drive a cart, and you are also the talent Li Xianggong needs. Ma Liu at the west end of the village, Li Sange knows, he is working for Li Xianggong now, and Li Xianggong asked him to take care of a mule cart, so prestige .”

"..."

Xie can speak well, and all the neighbors moved her heart.

The key point is that Zhao Han'er's family, young and old, ate the delicious beef with big mouthfuls, each of them was full of oil and sweat, and said it was delicious, which was more convincing than anything else.

More importantly, everyone was thinking: "Only Zhao Han'er can earn seven catties of good beef, three stones of grain, and 12 taels of snowflake silver from Li Xianggong. If I went to Li Xianggong's place, would I Wouldn't it make more money?"

Of course, some people whispered: "Then Li Xianggong is a rebel who followed Fang Shisan's rebellion. If you hang out with him, you will probably end up copying your family and asking about your family and leaving your body in a different place."

Every time at this time, there is no need for Mrs. Xie to say anything, a relative will definitely jump out of that person and scold him: "You are honest and responsible, but your whole family is going to starve to death, and the left and right are dead. I would rather eat meat every day and be happy for a while before I die, it is much better than being starved to death after eating the last meal."

Mrs. Xie listened and persuaded: "It's not that serious. Haven't you heard that if you want to get an official, you will be recruited by murder and arson..."

At the same time, similar scenes were also staged in dozens of other places...

……

(End of this chapter)