With the addition of the little wild boar, the journey suddenly became interesting.
The light of the torch was swayed here and there by the mountain wind, and the little wild boar also ran swaying here and there beside the person, hopping forward and back.
This time, no one chased it away. Jiang Zhi even put the things he brought on its back and ran like crazy. From time to time, he would push Xiaoman's butt forward and rush forward. He was full of energy.
It was too late when I returned home, and my family had already greeted me at the edge of the courtyard before anyone arrived.
Seeing the little wild boar running in front, Mr. Man was surprised: "Wuhua has been at home, how did he come back with you?"
Jiang Zhi was also surprised: "It is sleeping in the woods outside the village waiting for us. Is it still at home?"
Qiaoyun was even more surprised: "I even fed it dried sweet potatoes, and it was sleeping at home!"
Several people looked at the little wild boar, but nothing could be seen on such a hairy face. They could only see that the little wild boar went straight to his usual trough as soon as he came home, desperately drinking water and begging for food.
No matter how smart the wild boar is, it can't speak. The whereabouts of the little wild boar became a mystery during this day.
And every time Jiang Zhi went down the mountain after the new year, the little wild boar would be chased away for a while and then go back obediently. But when she returned home, she would see the little wild boar again in the woods on the roadside.
The family members could also see it eating and drinking as it should, but it slept deeply that night.
It’s fun to have a little wild boar at home.
It wasn't until one day when Jiang Zhi went down the mountain again and Qiao Yun saw Peppa Pig flying in the forest like an arrow that he found the answer to the mystery.
It turns out that the little wild boar has been going up and down the mountain non-stop throughout the day. He has to look after homes and pick up people on time, so he is exhausted by the evening. This is naturally something to say later.
Besides, Xiao Mannai and Chunfeng had already cooked the meal, and the two families gathered together again, eating and chatting happily.
Once you claim the land, you no longer have to worry about the land. After all, there are so many outsiders at the foot of the mountain. If people plant the land, it will be annoying to tear it up every day.
What makes everyone happy the most is that Chunfeng has settled down, which relieves their worries.
Although I can hide in the mountains and live in the future, there will always be airtight walls. It would be better to walk upright in the sunshine.
Jiang Zhi explained to Xiao Manye and Xu Dazhu: "Now that the household registration is in place, if someone comes to pursue you in the future, don't be private and just file a lawsuit."
Xu Dazhu and Chunfeng listened carefully, excited and nervous.
Jiang Zhi continued: "When the time comes, Magistrate Zhang will sentence Chunfeng to return to the Xu family.
It would be better to demolish ten temples than to destroy one family. You have children and are a loving couple, but you will only be asked to pay for the betrothal gift. "
This situation is in line with public psychology and cannot be regarded as bending the law for personal gain. There is no problem with County Magistrate Zhang.
As for the issue of whether the man over there agrees or disagrees, that is for private "discussion".
Xiaoman laughed and said: "Brother, sister-in-law, just relax, I will discuss it with others when the time comes."
Grandma Xiaoman is also happy. This has solved the biggest knot in her heart. Seeing that Dazhu is getting better day by day, Nini is also sensible and capable, and she no longer has to worry about living a difficult life.
The most important thing for the rest of the year is to celebrate the New Year. Bamboo leaves tied to bamboo poles to sweep away the "dust" have been done, and the gutters have also been dug.
It's New Year's Eve in a blink of an eye, and there is no New Year pig slaughter. Little Man Ye soaks the bacon early and then chops the firewood to keep the New Year.
There were no couplets to post, so Jiang Zhi brought them back from the county. The discarded calligraphy stickers made by others were dyed red with pulp made from dried mulberry fruits. There were red paper and black characters, and they were pasted on the doors of each household one by one. .
At the bottom of the cliff is the word "xi", and on the cliff is the word "treasure", which is both suitable for the occasion and festive.
Li Laoshi also came up the mountain early. Unexpectedly, he brought the Boxing Gifts, which are most needed and in short supply at the moment.
Two pounds of glutinous rice and a pound of fresh pork belly.
Xiao Mannai didn't know what to say after receiving this valuable item: "Honestly, where did you get these things? This costs a lot of money!"
Mr. Xiao Man was also a little surprised: "I just wanted you to have a lively meal. Look at you..."
Li Laoshi pulled on his clothes that had been specially taken care of but were still greasy and shiny, and touched his hair. He was a little proud and deliberately kept a low profile: "Nothing, it was Sister-in-law Jiang who taught me how to pull herbs a few days ago. Take it to the drug store in town to exchange money.
I borrowed some money from Zhang Juntou to buy these things. Don't you dislike it! "
"Oh, you are so polite!" Xiao Manye pulled him into the house.
With the glutinous rice in hand, Xiao Mannai started planning the recipe for the reunion dinner.
Naturally, the two families spent this meal together. A few women were busy in the kitchen, while Mr. Man took a few young men to find peach and walnut trees all over the mountain. He chopped them down a few times and fed them some food, which would produce more fruits.
Then spread ashes around the house in front and back so that no snakes, insects or ants will enter the house next year.
The reunion dinner was at noon. Jiang Zhi made spicy rabbit and braised chicken with Qiaoyun's help.
The rabbits belong to Xiaoman's family, and the chickens are raised by Qiaoyun. The eighteen chicks hatched half a year ago were eaten by kites and lost for no reason. Four roosters.
For farmers, one rooster that doesn't lay eggs is enough. These little roosters are served on the New Year's Eve dinner table before they crow.
Serious banquet dishes in Berkshire rarely include chili peppers.
There is not enough meat to make sweet and salty roasted pork, and there is no way to make crispy pork and longan.
Xiao Mannai took 2 taels of pork belly and minced a small amount of minced meat, mixed soybean flour into a paste, spread it with egg skins, soaked mushrooms and fungus, then put a few dried yellow flower bamboo shoots on it, steamed it into a bowl.
The first bowl, also called the fragrant bowl
Slice the remaining meat, add salt and bean paste, mix with fried rice noodles mixed with chili and Sichuan peppercorns, and put sweet potatoes on the bottom of the bowl to make steamed pork.
Tofu must be cooked, order it a few days in advance and soak it in water, and there is also Qinggang jelly.
The remaining stewed bacon, turnip and radish soup, fried pea tips, cold folded ears, and drained white rice.
A fish-shaped wooden sculpture, wrapped in a layer of skin and steamed, means there will be fish every year!
Although there are pork and grains, the two families usually save on rice, noodles and meat. Most of the time, green glutinous rice flour and corn flour are the staple food.
Today is different, it must be rich.
This meal is a tribute to the ancestors and an expectation for the future.
After surviving the chaos of war, wildfires and famine, we can finally say a perfect farewell to the past.
There was a room full of people. Li Laoshi probably hadn’t celebrated the New Year seriously for a long time, especially now that he was a serious guest.
Even though they were all acquaintances, he sat in the guest seat in a reserved and shy manner, swallowing his saliva while looking at the dishes on the table without reaching out to eat them.
Every time Little Man invites dishes: "Li Laoshi, pick whatever you like, but don't put your chopsticks away!"
He would always reply: "Old man, please please!"
Xu Dazhu also came to the table to eat today. He couldn't sit firmly on a high stool. Master Xiaoman had already made a wooden stand for him for this meal, and tied it around his waist to fix it so he could barely sit down.
It was a rare perfect scene, and Mr. Man also said a few auspicious words. Everyone was smiling. This meal was unprecedentedly satisfying.
After the family reunion dinner, in the afternoon it's time for the men to pay homage to their ancestors and visit their graves.
The Xu family's cemeteries are all at the foot of the mountain. Little Man took Xiao Man with him on a wooden stick, and Xu Errui also brought a cup of wine and two sacrifices prepared by Jiang Zhi. The trip took half a day.
This year there is no money for scented wax paper, but there is a bowl of water and rice and a belly full of words to tell the ancestors.
