Restarting life in Siheyuan

Chapter 255 On paper, I can grow vegetables and return to my hometown to worship my ancestors.

The Silly Zhu brothers and sisters have already gone home. This year is not thirty, so the dough needs to be made in advance, or the steamed buns will have to be steamed on New Year's Eve, but the three brothers and sisters will have to go out tomorrow morning without anyone watching.

In the end, I had to rely on Uncle Zou, and the old couple helped with the dough and steamed buns. During the meal just now, everyone talked about seasonal dishes. Now that we calm down and think about it, we can really explore it.

Although I have never grown vegetables, I have seen them before. It is indeed not difficult and does not require any resources. Growing vegetables involves nothing more than temperature and humidity, lighting, pests, nutrition, etc.

I remember that in later generations there were competitions for growing vegetables on paper in Beijing. The "Creative Competition for Growing Vegetables on Paper" organized by the Municipal Agriculture Bureau allowed urbanites who have lived in isolation for a long time to experience the wonderful life of "urban vegetable farmers".

Agricultural experts explained the technology of growing vegetables on paper to the residents on the spot. They spread a piece of ordinary white paper with good water absorption on the vegetable rack, sow seeds on it, cover the seeds with a piece of the same white paper, and sprinkle water once a day. And then it was.

You can try this thing. Once you are skilled in the technology, you can scale it up and it won’t take up much space. Just make some vegetable racks and make full use of the space. You can do this in the room. I have a lot of empty houses now, and cellar.

Try it, you can't sell it. Vegetables are priced, and you can't set a high price just because it's out of season. They'll be taken away in minutes. The price of out-of-season vegetables in winter is fixed, and it seems to have doubled. (all facts)

If you plant less, you can eat it yourself. It doesn’t matter if you can’t finish it and give it to others. If you have a thorough understanding of the technology first, there will always be opportunities. I vaguely feel that I have left an excellent idea for the future.

My younger brother, sister, and three girls will definitely be happy to do this. The key is to find seeds. I still have some seeds in my space, but not much. I have to find opportunities to get some vegetable seeds.

"Brother, you really got a jeep. Then we can drive it back without having to separate."

The little sister already knew that the jeep parked outside the yard was sent by the steel rolling mill, so she ran back happily, pulled Zhu Xuefeng and asked.

The second child also asked a question. "But brother, can you drive?"

Zhu Xuefeng said with a smile, "I borrowed it from the steel rolling mill. The three of us will go together tomorrow. We don't have to separate. Of course your brother can drive, so don't worry."

"Now, just hurry up and pack your things. We will leave after breakfast tomorrow. It will be a long journey, so we need to prepare some dry food."

The younger brother and sister happily went to prepare the things. It was actually not complicated and they had already divided them up, but now they have a car and can pull more.

Zhu Xuefeng borrowed a car and made preparations in advance. He bought four pots, two of which were slightly larger, for his second uncle and sister-in-law's family. The earthen stoves in the village usually have two pots, one in front of the other.

I originally wanted to buy a few others, but after thinking about it, there was no coal supply in the village and there was no room for the smaller ones. In order to deliver these four pots safely, I asked Uncle Xue to make a wooden shelf to protect them.

Otherwise, the two hundred kilometers to the village would be a problem whether there would be a complete pot.

There was a movement under the bed, and Zhu Xuefeng put down what he was doing. No need to look, it was the kitten making trouble, the treatment had been completed, and the kitten had been recovering for a few days.

The kitten showed strong emotions. It was hungry, and it was thinking about the space to store seafood. The last time it was treated, it rewarded a yellow croaker. The kitten should have a strong desire for the yellow croaker now.

It's a bit too much, yellow croaker, such a rare thing. Although I still have some space, these were made at the beach last year, but are these things meant for cats? Countless people can't eat them.

Feeling the urgent mood swings of the kitten, forget it, next time, let the poor little life have a full meal.

"Your pet is weak, should it be strengthened with energy?"

Can it be strengthened? This is okay. The last treatment was completed. Why didn’t you notice the prompt? But you have to wait until it finishes eating.

The well-fed kitten was wrapped in a ball of energy again, conveying a happy mood. It seemed that it was very refreshing to take an energy bath after eating. Zhu Xuefeng also smiled, and he couldn't wait to see it. One of them almost lost his kitten. To what extent can a fateful cat be strengthened?

The strengthening was very fast and was over in a short while.

"Your pet's qualifications are limited and have been strengthened."

What does limited qualifications mean? Ordinary cats, that’s probably what it means. Ordinary is just ordinary. What qualifications do you need to catch a mouse?

He released the little black cat and lay quietly in his hand, conveying a feeling of attachment. He probably knew who saved it. He still looked like a minor, but he was obviously more energetic.

"Help me find the mouse in the house!"

The kitten obviously accepted the instruction, jumped down, and disappeared after a while. Zhu Xuefeng tried to contact it, but unexpectedly another scene appeared in front of him. It could synchronize vision and hearing. It was so useful.

The little black cat was sitting on Zhu Xuefeng's lap. There were two little mice placed under the table. Zhu Xuefeng had already killed them. The little black cat had no interest in the little mice and was lying lazily.

"Brother, I'm done cleaning up. Is there anything else to pretend?"

The younger sister rushed in excitedly and immediately saw the little black cat on the elder brother's lap.

At dawn, the three siblings said hello to Uncle Zou, loaded up the car and filled up with water, and set off. The two little ones couldn't stop their enthusiasm, so they got up early. Zhu Xuefeng had no choice but to start preparing breakfast.

We can only eat snacks and eggs on the way, but there are still a lot of steamed buns, so we can’t take them out openly, so we should eat some snacks to cope with one bite.

The second child sat in the front, and the younger sister stayed in the back holding the little black cat. In just a few days, the younger sister became very familiar with the kitten.

The jeep has already left the city, and there are still remaining white snow on the top of the mountain in the distance. The entire mountain has not yet woken up from the winter, and the temperature outside the city is still much lower.

"Brother, let's change the name of the kitten. What's Xiao Hei's bad name? It's like a puppy's name. Even if you call it Little Charcoal Bun, Little Briquettes, or Black Mud, it sounds better than Little Hei."

Zhu Xuefeng was driving in front with a smile on his face, looking at the road while responding to his little sister's depression.

"It can't be changed. After I picked this name, I called it a few times and it remembered it. Now I want to change it, but it's too late. If you don't believe me, try it. If you call it, it will definitely ignore you."

"Little briquettes, little briquettes..."

Zhu Xuemei kept trying, but the little black cat lay motionless without any reaction.

"Xiao Hei, come here, come to the front."

Zhu Xuemei watched jealously as the little black cat slowly stood up and jumped onto her elder brother's lap in two seconds, saying angrily.

"It's really heartless. I gave you so much delicious food last night..."

"This little black guy is really good. Last night, there were no rats training on the attic board, so he slept much more soundly."

Zhu Xuesong couldn't help but sit up and gently put the kitten in his arms. The kitten didn't resist. It just licked its paws with its small tongue and combed its hair quietly.

"Second brother, you haven't even fed it, and it won't let you hold it. This little black guy is so mad at me."

Although the two little guys had traveled far and gained a lot of knowledge, it was still the first time they were riding in a jeep. They looked out of the car window from time to time, especially the little girl, who was yelling and screaming along the way. , everything is strange.

The jeep was not driving very fast, and there were no bumps as expected. The road seemed to have been cleared up again and was much smoother. At the current speed, we would arrive at about two o'clock in the afternoon, which was still faster than a motorcycle.

The little black cat returned to the little sister's arms a long time ago. Maybe he got up too early and excited the two little ones along the way. In addition, the two little ones were bumpy along the way, and the two little ones who were covered with thick condoms had calmed down and fell asleep.

Zhu Xuefeng drove quietly alone, trying to go as smoothly as possible. There were no accidents or inspections on the road, and he got off the road after one o'clock.

Maybe because I left the main road, I passed a village outside, because there were many stalls set up near the roadside. They were equipped with brooms, cooking utensils, tobacco leaves, baskets made of bamboo, and various dustpans and dustpans. I saw a car coming. They were all shouting loudly. The two children woke up and looked outside in a daze.

"Brother, are we almost there? I remember this place."

"That's right, turn around the foot of the mountain in front and walk a few kilometers to get there."

Zhu Xuefeng didn't stop the car either. He just sighed that if he set up a stall on the roadside in this cold weather, he could sell a few in a day. They were all from the mountains. No one knew how to do it. If they were brought to the city, it would be easy to sell them. They were all No one has the conditions to make things for living at home.

The Jeep struggled to climb up the hill. Vehicles at this time were generally not very capable of climbing. Most vehicles could not climb a [-]-degree slope even if they were empty.

Driving into the village, we slowly stopped at the entrance of my second uncle's yard. When more than a dozen children heard the movement of the jeep, they all gathered around.

Zhu Xuefeng opened the door and got out of the car, smiled at the child, and took out a handful of candies from the car.

"I know you. You are a relative of Uncle Zhu. You were here last time."

This little guy vaguely came from the summer and still carries a bubble wrap. He doesn't have many new clothes, but they are all neat and must have been starched and washed. Cloth and cotton have been tight this year. Zhu Xuefeng touched the little guy’s head. "That's right, it's me, here I go again, come on, let's share the sugar."

"Brother, who is this? I know you."

The two children also got out of the car and looked at the dozen or so children surrounding the eldest brother, but they didn't recognize any of them.

"Go and open the door and see if the second uncle, second aunt, and younger brothers and sisters are at home."

The courtyard door was not closed, just covered, and a little head popped out.

"It's the eldest brother. The eldest brother is really here. The second brother and the third sister are also back."

The one who rushed back to report the news was Xiaowu, the second girl of the second uncle's family.

The second aunt came out. The second uncle was not at home and was called to the village for a meeting. The fourth and fifth children were saying that they had gone to the ravine.

It might be the Chinese New Year, so I'm still well dressed, but this cotton-padded coat is a bit thin, and probably doesn't have much cotton.

Fortunately, I found someone to tidy up the old quilts at home, and I found several kilograms of cotton. In addition, I got some recycled old cotton from Section Chief Yuan a few days ago. It’s not much, maybe a dozen kilograms. This time I brought them all, so they should be of use.

"Xiao Feng, you really brought all your brothers and sisters, okay, okay, is this the car you drove here?"

The second aunt looked at the three brothers and sisters and the jeep at the door of the yard with surprise. She couldn't turn around for a while. Last time she rode a weird little motorcycle, but this time she drove back directly. Is this still her eldest nephew?

"Second aunt and fourth sister."

Zhu Xuefeng didn't need to remind him, the younger sister spoke sweetly first, and the younger brother followed closely and said hello.

"Second Aunt, let's unload the car. Please find a place to put it."

The second aunt finally reacted from her surprise.

"Girl, go find your brothers and sisters. Xuefeng, come with me. I'll find a place."

A few people started to unload the truck. This time with a jeep, they brought a lot of things with them. In addition to celebrating the New Year and worshiping ancestors, there were really many things for everyone.

"Why did you bring cotton back? The quilts and mattresses I gave you last time were taken care of. Why don't you save some for your own cotton-padded clothes?"

Looking at more than ten kilograms of old cotton, the second aunt's eyes were wet. Cotton is not produced in the mountains and cannot be bought in the district. The children have not made new cotton clothes for several years.

"Keep your voice down, Second Aunt, I asked someone to do this. Don't..."

The second aunt just stopped talking and looked around. Zhu Xuefeng smiled. What was he looking for in his yard? Just don't make any noise.

There is not much food, two ten kilograms of rice and miscellaneous grains, two small bags of flour, one kilogram each, and there is not much rice at home. This is because the three siblings spend most of their time in school, otherwise they would not be able to keep it at all.

These are for the second uncle and sister-in-law's family. It is estimated that they will have to start their own fires in two months. They are short of food. The flour is for making dumplings. There will definitely be no flour in the village.

According to the second uncle's honesty, he probably wouldn't be able to get it, so Zhu Xuefeng just had to count the votes, otherwise he wouldn't be able to help. Flour had always been nervous.

I brought a lot of seafood from the fishing village, and also packed many bags with cigarettes, wine, snacks, candies, fruits, etc., and two sets of miniature books.

A few new scarves and hats are for my younger siblings and sister-in-law. I can't help buy clothes. I can't remember the size. If I buy something that doesn't fit, it will be a waste.

When the last few pots were brought in, the second aunt was in tears. There had been no pots in the house for several years, and they were not allowed to smoke on weekdays. She was so hungry that she couldn't bear it. She blocked the doors and windows in the main room in the middle of the night. Boil a few potatoes or sweet potatoes.

I don’t know why this year, but the team has loosened control over their own fires in the past few days. They just emphasized that the New Year’s dinner and the first day of the new year are still in the team, everyone spends it together, and there is no need to go to the cafeteria to get food for the next period of time. .

They actually acquiesced to everyone having a fire at their own homes to celebrate the New Year after the first day of the new year. Each family was given some food and meat, and they would gather in the canteen after the first day of the new year. Every family in the family was anxious to get angry, but there was nothing they could do. The eldest nephew was thoughtful.

Only two or three families in the village have obtained pots now, and a few families who secretly hid the pots before are now using them to prepare New Year's goods. The village also turns a blind eye, and combines private plots with family side jobs. Everyone is guessing whether the canteen is going to close.

A few days ago, every household was preparing New Year's goods, and people lined up to use the big pots in the village, almost every day until midnight.

"Second Aunt, this little bag contains two pieces of used pig skin. It won't be considered a waste if you can use it in the pot when the time comes."

The second aunt watched the younger sister and the three of them move back and forth several times in the yard. Finally, when they were done, they saw Zhu Xuefeng coming in carrying a large oil drum.

"Second Aunt, this is the gasoline for the car. We need to find a safe place where we can't see sparks. If it's not too unsafe, you can see which place is suitable."

Tomorrow will be the [-]th, and there will be children setting off firecrackers in the village. It is not safe to put oil drums in the car.

Everything was settled, the three brothers and sisters also sat down in the main room, and the second aunt poured three bowls of water.

"You should be careful with this food. Don't send it to the team. I guess if there is a fire in your own house, you have to remind my second uncle and say it was me."

The second aunt's face was full of embarrassment. The head of the family delivered the rice brought by the eldest nephew to the canteen twice. The villagers said hello, but the family still didn't have enough to eat.

"Xiao Feng, you bring nothing less every time you come back, including this food, but my aunt doesn't help you and causes trouble to your three children. It's embarrassing to tell anyone about this."

The little girl had a sweet mouth and looked at the second aunt with a smile. She was still stroking the cat with one hand. The kitten was quiet, with its eyes half open, and occasionally curled its long tail.

"Second Aunt, you don't know that my brother has won many awards, including bonuses, prizes, chickens and meat. These are all earned by my brother. It's okay. We have enough at home, so just keep it. .”

"My eldest nephew is really capable. He is really promising to win so many prizes. It seems that this book is really worth reading."

When my aunt heard that she was rewarded with pork and chicken, she also sighed with emotion. Life is difficult now, so rewarding pork and chicken is really a real thing.

Zhu Xuefeng didn't explain that it was a gift. He drank some water and asked strangely.

"It's almost the Chinese New Year. It is said that things in the village have been arranged long ago. What kind of meeting is being held in the village now? My second uncle is not a cadre. Why should I ask him to come over?"

The second aunt was a little embarrassed to speak. She looked at Zhu Xuefeng and sighed after a long time.

"It's not a matter of setting up a chicken farm in the village. Your second uncle is meddling in it. They are just discussing this in the meeting now. They won't talk about it."

"You three didn't have lunch on the way. I'll cook you some porridge first, heat up some steamed buns, and give you a cushion. When your second uncle comes back, we'll have a reunion dinner together in the evening."

Zhu Xuefeng put down the bowl and stood up to stop the second aunt.

"Second Aunt, we ate snacks and eggs on the way, but we are not hungry. Don't bother. Let's talk about it in the evening. You can tell me why the chicken farm is related to Uncle Er. Isn't it run by the village?"

Seeing that the eldest brother wanted to talk to the second aunt about serious matters, the second brother and the younger sister couldn't bear it anymore.

"Brother, my second brother and I went to the ravine to look for our younger brothers and sisters."

Zhu Xuefeng waved his hand and sent the two children away.

"Go on, be careful, don't fall into the ditch, it will be uncomfortable if you get wet in the winter."

Zhu Xuefeng was also very surprised. It was agreed that it would be run collectively by the village. His second uncle was nothing in the village, so why did he get involved again and even call him for a meeting?

It seemed that the second aunt really didn't want to say anything. When Zhu Xuefeng asked, she had no choice but to sigh and say.

It turns out that in early November, the instructions from above came down and the village's request was approved. Based on the quota of five chickens per family, the village-run farm can raise 105 chickens.

However, hens usually only lay in March and April. In November, there are not many chickens in the nest. If chicks cannot be hatched, we will not open a breeding farm until March or April next year according to the secretary's wishes.

(End of this chapter)