Just the slightest breeze can make it tremble.
In the evening, Zhu Ping'an stood in the desolate courtyard, looking at the two dilapidated thatched houses that were trembling in the wind. He couldn't say a word. They were really blocking the wind and the sun.
"It's all me who has caused trouble for you three." The father, lying on the stretcher, blamed himself, with a lonely look on his face.
When mother Chen heard this, she gently hit Zhu's father with a smile on her face, "What can I say, we are a blessing in disguise. I tell you Zhu Shouyi, I have wanted to separate the family for a long time! If you hadn't hurt your leg , I have to light a bunch of firecrackers to celebrate today."
"I think this is pretty good. It's very close to the river. I'll catch two fish to make soup later." The eldest brother Zhu Pingchuan also stood up at this time, with an optimistic smile on his face.
"Okay, okay, I can eat fish in the fish soup this time." Zhu Ping'an seemed to be infected by the optimism of his mother Chen and his eldest brother, and he was beaming with childish joy at this moment.
Listening to his wife and children's words, Father Zhu also showed a rare smile.
"Why are you giggling? The doctor said your leg is not broken. Dachuan will catch a fish later. You should drink more fish soup. It will be ready soon and you can work as a cow or a horse for us three!"
The cruel words coming out of Chen's mouth made Father Zhu sweet in his heart.
Being close to the river, it is much more convenient to clean the yard. The family took advantage of the sky not completely getting dark to sweep the yard and sprinkle water to remove dust...
The thatched house was so comfortable at night. Zhu Pingan and his family lay in the thatched house after dinner, looking forward to the beautiful life in the future.
Mother Chen was talking excitedly about her family fortune in a low voice, and the family listened quietly, "I have saved more than three taels of money for my private life before, and Xie'er's New Year's money is close to one tael. It is the first time for Xue'er and Dachuan to sell honeysuckle. The 120 wen and the two silver nuggets that the noble lady gave to Xie'er also weighed one or two more. The honeysuckle picked by Dachuan last time was bought for more than 270 wen. My purse also sold for 130 wen. You rotten piece of wood. I also brought back several hundred coins from the town these two times, and the bad guy compensated me with one tael of silver. Oh, by the way, I also made more than one tael of silver by making rags for others... We'll call someone tomorrow Help clean up this yard..."
The family now has about 9 taels of silver. More than 9 taels of silver is considered a huge sum of money in a farm family. Fortunately, Zhu Ping'an has helped the family generate a lot of income during this time, otherwise the family would be in difficulty.
The next day, Mrs. Chen didn't need to call for help, and someone came to help.
The third uncle, the third aunt, and the lazy fourth uncle also came. Of course, the crow-mouthed fourth aunt was indispensable. In addition, several of my father's best brothers also came to help. Not only did they come to help, but they also brought things for themselves, including food and clothing. Even the fourth aunt secretly gave Chen more than a hundred dollars.
What happened to the Zhu family is not something that can be hidden from everyone's eyes. Everyone knows the details. No one knows the intrigue. People in Xiahe Village sympathize with Zhu Ping'an's family.
"I'm not talking about you, Second Sister-in-law, why are you looking for someone if there are so many of us left alone? It's better to spend that wasted money to buy some food for Second Brother to replenish his body." The fourth aunt is still the same, and can't stop. Shut up and keep chirping while adding thatch into the stirred mud.
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For the first time, Zhu Pingan felt that the little fourth aunt with a crow's mouth was so cute.
Things get done easily when there are many people. With the help of everyone, Zhu Ping'an's family's thatched house was completely transformed. The adobe walls of the thatched house have been reinforced and the thatched grass has been renovated so that you can no longer see the sky full of stars. The yard has also been built, and a mud wall as high as one person surrounds the yard, and safety is guaranteed.
Thanks to these people, Zhu Ping'an and his family spent more than a tael of money to tidy up the yard, fill in some household items, and decorate the small home.
At noon, Li Zheng also came and said that the village elders had jointly allocated five acres of wasteland around Zhu Ping'an's family's five-acre dry field to Zhu Ping'an's family. As long as it was reclaimed in time, the land title could be issued according to the above policy. .
Two acres of paddy field, five acres of dry land plus five acres of wasteland may seem like a lot, but in fact, according to the productivity of the Ming Dynasty, there was not much output. The output of five acres of dry land is not as good as that of two acres of paddy field, let alone five acres of wasteland. .
But no matter what, with these fields, Zhu Ping'an's family doesn't have to worry about going hungry.
Father Zhu is in good health and is a tall and thick man. The injury he suffered this time looked bloody and scary, but it was actually a skin injury. Father Zhu only lay in bed for seven or eight days before he could get out of bed and walk and stumble. .
Ten days later, Zhu's father was as strong as an ox as usual, which made Zhu Ping'an's family laugh even more.
There are so many fields at home, especially the five acres of wasteland, which must be reclaimed in time, otherwise the land deed will not be issued if the time is missed.
Zhu's father is in good health, and Zhu Pingchuan is only a half-year-old child. Although his mother, Chen, is a bit more aggressive, she doesn't have much strength. As for Zhu Ping'an, forget it, he's not even thigh-high.
After thinking about it, the family decided to buy a cattle. Since the founding of the country by Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming Dynasty has issued a ban on the killing of farm cattle. It is prohibited to slaughter cattle for meat. Even raising cattle to death will be punished, so the price of cattle is not expensive now. The Zhu family only spent less than three thousand dollars to buy a tall and strong black cow.
With the help of this big black cow, the Zhu family's five acres of wasteland were reclaimed in time, and Li Zheng also helped to apply for the title deed in time.
Zhu's father and his eldest brother went into the mountains every now and then to catch rabbits and pheasants to supplement the family's income. His mother, Chen, mended her purse day and night in exchange for money. Zhu Ping'an felt that he had to contribute while he was still studying.
Just as the fields were being plowed, the big black cow became idle. In order to bring out the value of this big black cow, and also to make some income for my family. Zhu Pingan thought for several days and finally came up with a good idea.
"Is it possible?" Mother Chen was very doubtful.
"It doesn't matter if it's unfortunate. I'll give it a try." Zhu's father agreed with Zhu Pingan's idea.
So, a few days later, a new thing spread in Siliba Village. Of course, the fact that Four Mile Eight Villages spread so quickly is inseparable from the fact that Zhu Pingan gave 20 children 20 cents to promote Four Mile Eight Villages.
Anyway, a few days later Zhu's father drove a bullock cart and hit the road. The oxcart is very strange. It is much longer and wider than ordinary oxcarts. There are strip seats in two rows. This is a wooden oxcart freshly built by Zhu's father. The trees cut down from the mountains cost nothing. There is a bell hanging on the neck of the big black cow. When it walks, the bell jingles and spreads far.
"Shou Yi, is it true that this ox cart only costs a penny in the town?" The eight neighboring villages had already received the news, but they were still unconfirmed, so an elderly lady asked.
"Everyone else has one penny, but you have taken care of me since I was a child. I dare not accept your money." Zhu's father said with a smile.
"You bastard looks down on my aunt, don't you? She can still afford a penny. Your ox cart is very convenient for us, otherwise my old arms and legs wouldn't be able to reach the town." The aunt laughed and scolded and got on the ox cart. .
Yes, Zhu Pingan transplanted the idea of modern buses to this era. It takes more than half an hour to walk from the village to the town, and one hour is two hours. Many are comfortable and labor-saving, and they only cost a penny, so people are still willing to pay.
After Zhu's father left in his bullock cart, his mother, Chen, stood outside the door anxiously and waited. Until Zhu's father came back in the evening, her mother Chen's uneasiness did not change.
Zhu's father drove the ox cart through the door and pulled Chen into the room like a thief.
"Ah, my son is here!" Mother Chen blushed and spat at Zhu's father, thinking that Zhu's father was going to do something embarrassing.
Zhu's father also made a big blush, shook his head repeatedly, and pulled Chen into the room.
As soon as he entered the room, Father Zhu began to unfasten his belt.
Mrs. Chen's face turned even redder when she saw it, and she pinched Zhu's father's waist angrily and said angrily, "Damn it, I know you've been hurt for a while, so tonight, tonight I'll go with your wishes... ..."
When Chen said this, he suddenly stopped talking, and then his voice became louder, "Zhu Shouyi, didn't you go for robbery?!"
Father Zhu untied his belt because his arms were full of copper coins and the money bag in his sleeves was already full.
Wow, Father Zhu poured all the coins he had on the bed and looked at Mrs. Chen excitedly, "Why am I so good at robbing? I earned all this money by recruiting people in town today!"
"Really?" Chen's eyes lit up excitedly.
Father Zhu nodded vigorously, "Today happens to be a big gathering in the town. There are more people. I also made a few more trips. If there are usually not so many people."
Mrs. Chen's eyes were full of gold, and she started counting excitedly. It took a long time to finish counting, and there were a total of two hundred and thirty-seven coins.
Transportation, especially monopoly transportation, is of course indispensable for making money. As the instigator, Zhu Pingan was not surprised by this.
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