Farmhouse Pastoral Notes

Chapter 51
The weather is getting hotter and hotter. In the spring and autumn, I have changed from spring shirts and trousers to summer shirts and shorts. They are called shorts, that is, the cuffs are a little shorter than the previous trousers, which can expose the ankles, and the summer shirts also reveal a small half of the cuffs. .It's completely different from Huzi's gowns that exposed most of their arms. After all, this is ancient times, not as open as modern times.

Chunqiu didn't take Huzi to the back mountain to dig Chinese herbal medicines today, because Mrs. Yang Li asked her to go to the backyard to pull out the green vegetables that were too old to eat and feed them to the chickens.

Two days ago, some peddlers who sold chickens came to their village. Mrs. Yang and Li thought that she had eaten a lot of chickens this year, and she wanted to kill them during the Chinese New Year, so she bought another [-] small chickens from the peddlers. Chickens, sixteen hens and four roosters.

The newly bought chicks are still too small, not as big as Chunqiu's palm. Yang Li is worried about putting them together with those grown hens, for fear that those old hens will accidentally crush the chicks. die.

It can be said that Mrs. Yang and Li worked hard for these twenty little chicks, and finally decided to put them together separately, and move them out when they grow tails.

In order to house these little chickens, Yang Li specially asked Yang Weibai to make a small cage for them, with leaves woven into a cover to prevent the little chickens from jumping out.

"Cluck...cluck" Chunqiu carried a basket on one arm, and held a large handful of vegetables in the other hand, shouting the signal to feed, and then threw a handful of vegetables into the chicken cage, because The matter of the little chickens, now the old hens in the family are all about Chunqiu. The first thing Chunqiu does when he wakes up every morning is to pick vegetables from the backyard and then run to the chicken rack in the front yard and throw them to the chickens inside.

Seeing the hens running back and forth competing for food in front of him, Chunqiu looked up at the blue sky, and sighed, when will she grow up!

Chunhua came out from the west room, saw Chunqiu who was listless by the side of the chicken stand, she didn't know what she thought of, she ran a few steps quickly, and slapped Chunqiu on the shoulder, scaring Chunqiu into a wit, but Chunhua was caught Chunqiu laughed amusedly, "Sister, what are you doing? I laughed so hard, hahaha...so timid...hahaha"

"..." Little boy, Chunqiu looked at Chunhua, who was smiling from ear to ear, and said in his heart, he still played such a childish game, and dared to laugh at me, hum, next time I don't make delicious food for you, Chunqiu will be proud Delicate.

Chunhua laughed enough, and then remembered her purpose, and quickly leaned on Chunqiu's ear and said, "Third Sisters and Third Sisters, let's go play together." After Chunhua finished speaking, she saw that Chunqiu beside her didn't respond, and was still feeding the chicken. Chunhua bulged her cheeks, stretched out her hand to poke Chunqiu's waist, pulled Chunqiu's arm and said in a low voice, "Go, go, it's fun, third sister, I heard that the fish in the river have washed down recently because of the flood. how much"

Chunqiu heard Chunhua's words, looked back at Chunhua's face that believed in me, and said in a low voice, "Really? But my mother won't let me go to the river. Wash away." Chunqiu thought about what happened two days ago, because there was a lot of rain in Yangjia Village this year, so a stream of water suddenly rushed down from the upper reaches of Yangjia Village two days ago, directly destroying most of the reeds by the river. Fortunately, it was night when the flood came down, everyone in Yangjia Village was sleeping, no one went into the water, if it was daytime... Chunqiu thought of the children by the river, the consequences would be unimaginable.

There are also certain benefits after the flood. The first thing that bears the brunt is a lot of fish and shrimp washed down. When the flood recedes, people in Yangjia Village will carry basins or buckets to the river every day.

Mrs. Gu went there several times before, and all the fish he caught were several catties, such as carp, grass carp, catfish, and a wide variety of white fish, including some freshwater shrimp. Chunqiu wanted to try it when he saw it, but Yuan Shi had warned Huzi and Chunqiu a long time ago, and firmly refused to let them go to the river.

"What are you afraid of? My mother is not at home. My father agrees. My eldest brother is going too. When the time comes, you and your second aunt will have a good talk. Let's go together. Second aunt won't let you go." It's all trivial things, "Sanmei, are you going or not? If you don't, I'll leave."

Chunqiu has long been tempted by what Chunhua said, but now that Chunhua asks, there is no reason not to go, "Go, go, I'll go" Chunqiu nodded repeatedly, "I'll go and talk to my mother, she's in the house Wait a minute." Chunqiu can't go, and if Yang Chunjun has gone, then their eldest wife will definitely go, and if she goes with her, Yuan Shi will definitely agree.

"Hurry up, I'm still in a hurry" Chunhua shouted at Chunqiu's back, and Chunqiu responded even faster.

"Mother, mother, I want to go to the river with my second sister to play." Before Chunqiu arrived, the voice came over.

"What? No, it's too dangerous. If you don't want to go, you can just stay at the door." Yuan Shi was removing the quilt in the room, and when she heard Chunqiu's words, she refused without thinking.

"Mother, it's not the two of us, but also the elder brother and elder sister. Besides, it has been several days. The flood has receded long ago, so there is no danger." Chunqiu said indifferently, her mother is blind Worry, there are so many dangerous things.

"Brother Jun'er and Nier are going too? Who did you hear? Isn't your aunt going back to her mother's house?" Yuan Shi frowned and looked at Chunqiu, feeling a little puzzled. Her sister-in-law had already returned to her mother's house, and she left today But she still saw it, and said that it was something to go home, and now that the sister-in-law is not here, who can let a few people go down the river.

"Sister Chunhua said it." Chunqiu looked at Yuan Shi, and said with affirmation, "Sister Chunhua also said that it was agreed by the uncle, and they all went. Mother, I want to go too. How much have I stayed at home?" My God." After Chunqiu finished speaking, he ran to Yuan's side and pulled the corner of the quilt on the side back and forth, and the surface of the quilt that was spread on the kang immediately became choppy, which directly caused Yuan's to be unable to remove the quilt properly.

"Hey, Niuniu, hurry up and let go of the quilt, the quilt is not finished yet." Yuan Shi tugged at the surface of the quilt and motioned for Chunqiu to let go, "Mother, I still have things to do. If you want to go, I will call you." The second brother is together, so I can feel more at ease." It's not that Yuan can't trust her nephew, but compared to Yang Chunjun, she is more at ease with Yang Chunming.

Chunqiu was still lying on the quilt in despair, unwilling to get up, but suddenly heard Yuan's agreement, no matter what, he directly agreed, "Mother, you let my second brother go? Don't let him study?" After realizing what her mother said just now, since his second brother came back, her mother wanted to lock her second brother in the room so that she could not come out, why did she change her sex now?Just because you don't trust her?Chunqiu thought narcissistically, so she is still very important in her mother's heart!

"Hmph, do you think your mother is so unreasonable? Your second brother has been in the room for so many days, it's time to go out and let the wind go, and" Yuan Shi said here, glanced at Chunqiu, only Looking at the other party, "I don't believe that your elder brother can take care of you, or your second brother can take care of you, mother can rest assured."

The corners of Chunqiu's mouth twitched when he heard it, is it true that her mother dislikes her?Sure enough, she thought too much before!
"Okay, let's go, go early and come back early, your father has gone up the mountain today, and he will probably be able to eat meat at noon." After Yuan Shi finished speaking, she threw Chunqiu out, so what if it delayed her taking off the quilt.

Chunhua has long been waiting and anxious, Yang Chunjun and Yang Chunni have already left, and she is the only one who has not left to wait for Chunqiu.Seeing Chunqiu coming out, he hurried over and said, "Why did you come out, did Second Aunt agree?"

"I agree, but let me call my second brother and second sister. If you are in a hurry, go there first. My second brother and I will be there soon." Chunqiu looked at Chunhua's heart-scratching appearance, which was the other party's heart. It flew out early.

It's not good to make her wait any longer.

"That's not good." Chunhua was obviously moved when she heard Chunqiu's words, but she still stood there without moving.

"It's nothing, I'm not looking for my second brother? Second sister, you go and have a look first, if you go late, there will be no fish." Chunqiu smiled and didn't care at all. Anyway, she went just for fun, otherwise every day Suppressing at home, sooner or later I will go crazy.

"Then I'm going. By the way, third sister, my elder brother took all the fishing nets and buckets at home, so you don't need to take anything." After Chunhua explained, she ran away like a gust of wind.

Chunhua raised her head and smiled, then turned around and walked towards her second brother's study.

"Kuukoukou, second brother, second brother, go out and catch fish" "Second brother, second brother, mother agrees." Chunqiu knocked on the door, talking quickly.

"Second Brother, Second..." Brother, before Chunqiu finished speaking, the door creaked open, Yang Chunming exposed his head from inside, looked at Chunqiu helplessly, and bent down under Chunqiu's smile He reached out and touched Chunqiu's little head, "Sister San, you call Second Brother too often." Yang Chunming also didn't know what to say?how to say?He was writing the poems left by his wife in the room, but he heard his sister's voice so magical, and it was so coherent that Yang Chunming couldn't continue writing, so he opened the door helplessly.

"Hey hey" Chunqiu looked at his second brother and knew that he was in trouble again, so he smirked, "Second brother, I didn't do it on purpose, it was my mother who said that you stayed in the room for too long, you should go out Let the wind go." Chunqiu had a look on his face that it wasn't my fault, Yang Chunming's hands were itchy, and he stretched out his hand to flick Chunqiu's brain.

"Second Brother" Chunqiu complained pitifully to Yang Chunming, covering his forehead that had been flicked with his palm.

"Okay, stop pretending, I'll go, wait for me to change some clothes first." Yang Chunming glanced at the green shirt on his body, this kind of clothes are not suitable for going into the river, and if they get dirty, they are not easy to wash.

Yang Chunming looked at Chunqiu, who was still pretending to be pitiful, and without thinking about it, he closed the door and went back to the house. He would not be deceived by his sister's tricks. You must know that his sister's skill is not a day or two, Yang Chunming Chunming went from being panicked at the beginning to being calm now, but he has learned a lot of blood and tears.

Chunqiu saw her second brother turned around and closed the door in a continuous and handsome manner without a trace of nostalgia, so he knew that he had not deceived anyone, her brother is really boring now, Chunqiu tilted his head and pursed his mouth and thought.

Soon the door was opened again, and Yang Chunming came out wearing a dark blue shorts and shorts. In order to facilitate entering the water, Yang Chunming also changed into a pair of straw sandals that Yuan had prepared long ago.

"Let's go, I'll be back for lunch later." Yang Chunming took the lead and walked in front of Chunqiu.

"Second brother, you're being silly." After Chunqiu said that, he chased after him. Yang Chunming saw it and then ran again. The two of them ran to the entrance of the village just like this.

Encountered Huzi at the entrance of the village, Chunqiu Xunsi had many people and strength, so he brought Huzi there directly.By the time the three of them reached the river, the water was already hot.

Basically, there are people in the river, but most of them are children. Everyone is either holding a basin or carrying a bucket, catching fish in the water from left to right. The fish are very large, and many of them jumped out of the water because of the shallow water. , was illuminated by the sun, shining white light.

"Second Brother, Third Sister, Hu Zi, are you here? Our things are on the east side, and there is a pile of fish over there, that belongs to our family." Chunhua was catching fish in the water, waiting to see who came from the shore Finally, he stretched his neck and shouted.

"Hey, I got it," Chunqiu replied, and the three of them walked towards their home. Not to mention, her sister and the others really caught a lot of fish. Looking at the two buckets full of fish, Chunqiu couldn't help but admire him. Because there are many and big fish, these fish are not for eating, but are going to be sent to Heishan Town for sale.

Chunqiu held a medium-sized water basin, and asked the two people beside him, "Second brother, which one are you? Is it a basin or a bucket?"

"Bucket, it's easier to carry." Yang Chunming thought for a while and then said, considering the situation in the water, it's better to carry the bucket.

After Chunqiu heard it, he handed the bucket to Yang Chunming, looked at Huzi and asked, "What about you?"

After "bucket" Huzi finished speaking, he took over the bucket from Chunqiu and then poured it into the water.

Yang Chunming was bent over and rolled up his trousers, as if he had thought of something, he turned his head and told Chunqiu who was about to go into the water. "You get into the water in a while, don't go in, you know?"

Although the flood receded, the river was still widened by more than half, and the deepest part of the water in the middle reached Yang Chunming's waist. Chunqiu was too small, and Yang Chunming was worried that it would be troublesome if he accidentally stepped into the pit.

"I know, second brother, I'm on the shore." Chunqiu nodded, she didn't plan to go inside at first, she just wanted to come and see that there were no freshwater shrimps, you know, the spicy shrimps are delicious.

"Well, then I'm going down the river." After Yang Chunming finished speaking, he walked towards Yang Chunjun.

Chunqiu looked up and followed him into the water.

Because of the flood, the river appeared to be clearer than before. Chunqiu was bending over to look for shrimps with his little feet shaking, thinking that there would be no grass shrimps brought back by his aunt before, here are all river shrimps under their heads.

There are many kinds of freshwater prawns, such as freshwater prawns, river prawns, grass prawns, crayfish, white prawns, prawns, etc., but in spring and autumn, the most common ones are river prawns and grass prawns. River prawns and green prawns are one kind.

The main purpose of Chunqiu's visit today is to come here for the vanilla prawns, but now she is told that there are no grass prawns, only river prawns, although river prawns can eat shrimp skins, and they can also be fried with soy sauce, but she still likes prawns.Chunqiu looked depressed, and even the action of catching shrimp became careless.

Chunhua caught a basin full of fish, and was walking back with her arms in her arms, but when she noticed Chunqiu beside her, she immediately stopped, looked at Chunqiu's basin, and said with a curled lip. "Third Sister, what are you doing with this little shrimp? Our chickens don't even eat them."

"Ah? What?" Chunqiu looked back to ask Chunqiu, his head was a little dazed, and he looked down at the three or two small shrimps in the basin. They are good for people to eat!

"It's okay, it's okay. Third sister, look at the aquatic plants down there. They are full of prawns, which are much bigger than you can catch. If you want to catch them, go down there." Chunhua said, I understand your appearance , pointed to the aquatic plants under the spring and autumn and said.

"Really? How big is it?" Chunqiu's tone was a little surprised, did it really exist here?
"It's the one my mother caught two days ago, but it's not delicious, it's all mud." After Chunhua finished speaking, she wrinkled her nose, obviously dissatisfied with Gu's cooking.

"..." That's her aunt who can't do it, Chunqiu didn't care about Chunhua beside him, "Second sister, I'll go then." After Chunqiu finished speaking, he took the basin and ran away, taking all the river shrimp in the basin. It was poured out, and with the grass shrimp in front, Chunqiu didn't like these little things.

"I..." Before I finished speaking, Chunhua said heartily, her third sister is really annoying, before she finished speaking, she glared at Chunqiu's back, Chunhua hugged the pot and walked back...

Aquatic plants are a kind of herbaceous plants that can live in water. It is the living place of some fish and shrimp. Chunqiu didn’t care about it before, but just rummaged under the pebbles. She didn’t react until she heard Chunhua’s words and realized the problem. How stupid I am.

The aquatic plants in front of me are very similar to the rice seedlings before. Chunqiu filled the pot with some water, let it sink to the bottom, and then stretched out his hand to peel the aquatic plants. Without the cover of the aquatic plants, Chunqiu clearly saw the situation inside. Those big, transparent guys with beards, aren't they the grass shrimps I've been thinking about?

Chunqiu chuckled, then made a decisive move, grabbed one and threw it into the basin. When all the aquatic plants were cleaned by Chunqiu, the basin was half full again.

Chunqiu happily went back with the basin in his arms, and saw his second brother and Huzi carrying the bucket full of fish on the bank, oh, her brother and her brother are really capable.

"Third Sister, what's in your basin?" Hu Zi was young and full of curiosity. When he saw the ugly thing growing in Chunqiu's arms, he didn't understand why his sister liked such ugly things. eh?Just like the loach before.

Children don't know what things are, so they can only distinguish between beauty and ugliness.

"This is a shrimp." Chunqiu was in a good mood, and spoke very briskly.

"Isn't the shrimp very small? How can you be as big as the third sister?" Hu Zi was a little surprised, thinking that the third sister was lying to him.

"No, you'll find out when you get home." Chunqiu didn't explain, just said that he was watching when he got home.

"Okay, big brother and the others are going to catch it for a while, let's go first, otherwise mother should be worried." Yang Chunming didn't care about the two younger ones, but raised his eyes to estimate the time, it should be around noon, will they return? Her mother should be anxious at home.

"Eh"*2
"Brother, I'll take Qiu'er and Huzi back first." Yang Chunming stood on the bank and said to Yang Chunjun who was still catching fish in the river.

"Let's go back," Yang Chunni replied, Yang Chunjun was concentrating on looking at the grass carp weighing more than six catties in front of him, and had no time to talk at all.

Yang Chunming didn't care either, he greeted the two people on the side and walked home.

Because it is too hot in summer, for the sake of convenience, Mrs. Yang and Li, except for dinner, have meals for each person in each room. Of course, the money, rice, oil and salt in the kitchen can be used, but things like shared eggs and meat are still available. You have to wait until you eat it together, unless you paid for the meat yourself, or caught the fish yourself, so the children of Spring and Autumn will go down to the river to touch a few fish when they have nothing to do, after all, the meat is still too much. It is expensive, and the family members are reluctant to buy it. It is hard to come by such free game or fish.

(End of this chapter)