The store clerk is very enthusiastic. With the Chinese New Year approaching, everyone has become amiable. The store clerk, who is already very good at entertaining customers, now seems even more warm and considerate.
Aunt Xiao San was also very willing to chat with the store clerk. When she heard the store clerk ask if she needed a shower, she immediately said that she needed one.
"The Chinese New Year is coming, and I need to take a shower, so that I can wash away the dust of a year's hard work and celebrate the New Year cleanly.
I wonder if you can prepare some food for the New Year. I don’t have time to prepare it when I come back. I have to bring something with me when I go home for the New Year to make the whole family happy. "
Aunt Xiao San was chatting with the store clerk about household matters while eating. She seemed more stable now. She really looked like a housewife and was very good at talking.
But in fact, after this year of experience, Xiao Sanyi has made great progress in all aspects. Even riding and shooting are outstanding.
"It's better for you to go shopping on the street tomorrow. Every store is open and sells everything. It's okay to choose by yourself.
It seems that this is the first time for the two couples to go home to celebrate the New Year. Why did they leave the old man and go out to make a living alone just after they got married? "
The store clerk looked at Sanyi Xiao and Haizi for a long time, feeling that the two looked familiar, but couldn't remember them at the moment, so he talked to them with some questions and curiosity.
"Isn't it? She's about to give birth. My family lives in the mountains for hunting, and there's no midwife there, so I have to send her to her parents' house. How can I do this without buying something?
I originally wanted to go back after the New Year, but I can't wait any longer, so I can only rush back at this time. "
Haizi also made up lies to deal with the store clerk. He felt that the store clerk should not ask such useless questions, as long as he received the customers well, and making random inquiries was not in line with the rules of opening a store. The store clerk stopped there and went downstairs to do other things.
After the two finished eating, they called the waiter to clean up and asked him to bring hot water. Haizi closed the curtains, blew out the candles, and asked Third Aunt Xiao to wash first, just like what Third Aunt Xiao did last time.
And Aunt Xiao was not polite. After taking off her clothes, she went to soak in the water. She looked like she was enjoying herself. It seemed that she was really satisfied with this trip.
Haizi knew that Xiao Sanyi had some difficulty in moving now, so he took the initiative to help Xiao Sanyi give her a bath without waiting for her greeting. Xiao Sanyi did not object and accepted Haizi's help happily.
Just like that, the two of them didn't speak. Xiao Sanyi sat quietly in the wooden barrel, Haizi rubbed it gently, Xiao Sanyi slowly turned around, and the two of them enjoyed this rare quiet time.
After Xiao Sanyi took a bath, she put on her underwear and said to Haizi: "Go and change the water. Third Aunt is heavy, so you can't use the water that Third Aunt has washed with, as it will bring bad luck to men."
This child has really grown up and can bathe others. When he has a wife in the future, he will bathe her every day and be a good man. "
Haizi didn't say anything. Following Aunt Xiao's instructions, he poured out the washed water, replaced it with water, washed himself thoroughly, and then went to bed and fell asleep. He wanted to be energetic and go home to celebrate the New Year.
I got up very early the next day, and Xiao Sanyi led Haizi to the streets. But Aunt Xiao didn't seem to be in a hurry to buy anything. She walked around, looking here and there, and it was almost noon, but she didn't buy much.
Haizi was eager to go home and wanted to urge Xiao Sanyi to hurry up, but she didn't say anything for a long time. Xiao Sanyi also saw what Haizi meant and explained to Haizi.
"It's not busy. Our horses and sledges are fast. They can run two hundred miles a day without any problems. I know this well. You don't have to worry."
Haizi didn't say anything anymore. When he returned to the hotel, it was already noon, and the hotel clerk still greeted them warmly.
"You two gentlemen are back? The things you bought, including rice and noodles, have been delivered to you by the shop assistants."
"Okay then, help us load it onto the horse sledge in a moment. This is really delaying things, otherwise we would have been home early and it would be really hard to buy something.
But my home is only thirty miles away, so I'll be home before dark. Please ask the store owner to give us something to eat so we can get on our way quickly.
Are the horses also fed? Give us more ingredients. In this winter, the horses will also suffer. Thank you, store brother! You took such good care of me. I will stay at your store next time I pass by. "
Aunt Xiao San greeted the store clerk like a farmer's wife, and the store clerk regarded them as ordinary hunters and had no doubt about the identity of San Aunt Xiao and Haizi.
After lunch, Xiao Sanyi and Aunt Xiao were put on a horse sledge by the enthusiastic store clerk. After saying hello to each other, Haizi rode out of the Deyang Hotel.
Not far after leaving Dazhan Town, Xiao Sanyi asked Haizi to change the direction of travel and said that he would take a detour to Wulahai Town.
"Take a horse and drive to Wulahai. Hurry up. Let's stay there tonight."
"I don't know how to get to Wulahai Town? We might as well go back to my house directly. I can almost find the way."
Hearing that Haizi wanted to drive the horse sledge directly back to Duanlonggang, Aunt Xiao said that was not possible. She should go to Wulahai Town according to her plan. It would be safer and more convenient to turn back to Duanlonggang from there.
"That's not possible. If I go directly to your house, why don't I pass by my house and my second sister's house? What should I do if I meet an acquaintance?
Besides, if we go this way, it will be daytime when we arrive at your house. How can we enter the village? The time for walking around the bend is just right, I don’t know the road and I won’t ask. "
Haizi felt that what Xiao Sanyi said made sense, so he turned to another road, saying that he would ask for directions when he met a village. Anyway, he would go to Wulahai Town tomorrow morning, and he could take a rest before going to Duanlonggang.
It was already midnight when the horse and sledge zigzagged to Wulahai Town. Haizi parked the sledge in front of the Han family car shop and went up to knock on the door. It took a long time for the waiter to come out. Hearing that the two wanted to stay, he opened the door and introduced the two into the yard.
"I came so late, but there is not a single customer in the store. The Chinese New Year is tomorrow, so I came to the hotel so late."
The store clerk seemed to be talking to himself. Of course, he was talking to Haizi and Xiao Sanyi. He felt that he shouldn't come to the hotel so late. Not only would it disturb his sleep, but also the hot kang where the guests stayed was. Gotta burn it now.
"Let us stay! My family is a hunter in the mountains, and we finally got here. It's too late, and we dare not go any further. Besides, both the man and the horse are very hungry.
My daughter-in-law is about to give birth, and we don’t have anyone to deliver the baby. We can’t find a house for dozens of miles. Where can I ask the old lady to go? I have no choice but to send her to her parents’ house. "
Haizi patiently explained to the store clerk that he knew it was a bit late to come to the hotel and there was nothing he could do if they didn't accept him.
"How can we send her back at this time? How far is my mother's family from here? I can't give birth today, right?"
The owner of the store heard the sound and came out to ask. He felt that he was not sure about the arrival of people staying in the store at this time, so it was better to go out and see for himself.
"I can't give birth today, I have to wait a few days. Now is a good time for hunting, but I haven't got around to sending it off. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it after the New Year.
Her parents' home is not far from here, only thirty or forty miles away. She will stay overnight and leave early tomorrow morning, and will be home at noon. "
Haizi continued to explain to the store manager, and said that if he left early tomorrow morning, he could arrive home at noon to celebrate the New Year. As for the store's money, it was easy to negotiate, and the two of them would not disrespect the store's warm hospitality.
"Let's move their things into the house and heat up the kang. There's no one in that big room, so let them live together. It's quite convenient.
See what they want to eat and simply give them the order. The horses are also fed, and they have to go on a journey tomorrow. "
After the shopkeeper gave instructions to the shopkeeper, he turned around and went back to the house to sleep. He felt that these two people were still decent people and would not make any unexpected mistakes.
Haizi helped Aunt Xiao and the shop assistant into the house. Such a large room can accommodate twenty or thirty people, but it is completely empty.
The man quickly brought firewood to burn the kang, and moved everything on the horse sledge into the house. While burning the kang, he asked Haizi for words.
"Let's see what you two want to eat? I've already filled the horses with hay. The kang is not too cold yet and will heat up in a while. It's safe to live here."
"No need for anything, just bring some dry food. Please give us a pot of boiling water. Then close the door tightly for us, and get up early tomorrow morning to make us some porridge and boil some eggs. But cook more, we are going to bring On."
Aunt Xiao San was the first to answer the store clerk's words, and told her to bring more boiled eggs with her in the morning. She could pay more, but nothing else was needed. She told the store clerk to go back to bed after he finished his work.
The shop assistant brought hot water and two rice bowls and placed them on the edge of the kang. He used his hands to feel whether the newly heated kang was hot, then swept away the firewood at the mouth of the stove, blocked the stove door and went out, locking the door from the outside.
Haizi waited on Aunt Xiao and ate something with boiled water. Aunt Xiao San asked Haizi to close both the inner and outer doors, brought a urinal and placed it under the edge of the kang. Then she blew out the lamp, put on the quilt, and got ready to sleep.
"Haizi, take out the gun and put it under the pillow. Sleep smartly."
Haizi agreed softly, followed Aunt Xiao San's instructions one by one, and then waited for San Aunt Xiao to lie down first.
And he didn't take off his clothes, just slept next to Aunt Xiao San. But the room wasn't warm, and Aunt Xiao San had covered Haizi with the quilt.
After dawn, the two pretended to be anxious and quickly left the Han Family Car Shop. However, after leaving Wulahai Town, the horse sledge still slowed down.
There was no words all the way, and I also had to deal with him at noon. Haizi was very familiar with this road. He estimated the time and when the sun was about to set, they arrived outside Duanlonggang Village.
Listening to the sparse sound of firecrackers coming from the village, Haizi was very excited, his eyes were shining and his heart was beating thumpingly.
He was about to arrive home and could see his mother, sister and brother soon, so Haizi was excited to ride into the village.
